WOLCOTT, Colo. – For the second-consecutive tournament, the #9 Pepperdine women's golf team has taken home the hardware, following up the season-opening Dick McGuire Invitational victory with another team win at the Golfweek Red Sky Classic this week.
"Great start to the season with two good wins!" said Pepperdine women's golf head coach
Laurie Gibbs. "Coach Kacey and I are very proud of how everyone has contributed to our success. We have some things to work on the next couple weeks and look forward to some good practices. We are all excited for our trip to Nashville, Tennessee and over to Knoxville for the Mercedes-Benz tournament coming up."
Pepperdine held a sizable lead for the majority of the tournament, finishing up with a three-day score of 864 (285-288-291). The Waves were the only program to not shoot over par at the par-72 Fazio Course at Red Sky Golf Club and Pepperdine led the second-place team by 10-strokes.
It's the sixth time the program has won this tournament all-time. Four Waves finished in the top-15, while three finished in the top-10 for the team win:
Kaleiya Romero (T-3
rd),
Lauren Gomez (T-6
th),
Lion Higo (T-9
th) and
Jeneath Wong (T-12
th). This is the second time this season Romero, Gomez and Higo have finished in the top-10, while they have achieved the feat 12, nine and 12 times respectively throughout their careers as well.
Pepperdine has one more fall tournament slated this year and will head to Knoxville, Tenn. for the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate, hosted by University of Tennessee from October 15-17.
PLAYER SCORE
- Senior Kaleiya Romero (San Jose, Calif.) led the Waves, tying for third with a three-day total of 214 (73-70-71). She finished with nine birdies overall, including four in the final round. Romero also marked an eagle on the 15th hole during the second round this week. She now ranks sixth in the Pepperdine record books with 25 below-par rounds in her career.
- Junior Lauren Gomez (Murrieta, Calif.) tied for sixth with a score of 216 (73-71-72), while tabbing a tournament-best 13 birdies overall. She was good for four birdies in the final round to finish even on the day and overall.
- Senior Lion Higo (Gold Coast, Australia) finished tied for ninth with a three-round score of 217 (69-74-74). She finished with 11 birdies and an eagle, including four birdies in the final round. Three of her four birdies in the round today came in a final five bogeyless holes. She now ranks tied for seventh in the Pepperdine record books with 24 below-par rounds in her career.
- Sophomore Jeneath Wong (Melbourne, Australia) ended the tournament tied for 12th with a score of 218 (70-74-74). She added eight birdies throughout three rounds, including four in the final round today.
- Junior KaYee Kwok (Tianjin, China) finished tied for 32nd with a final score of 226 (77-73-76), adding seven birdies and an eagle during the tournament.
- Competing as an individual, freshman Helen Chu (Guangzhou, China) finished tied for 27th with a three-round total of 225 (74-79-72). She amassed five birdies, including two in the final round.
THE NUMBERS
Team Standings: 1. Pepperdine 864; 2. New Mexico State 874; 3. Kennesaw State 888; 4. Boise State 892; 5. Mercer 893; T6. Arkansas State 895; T6. Central Arkansas 895; T6. High Point 895; T9. Wofford 899; T9. UNCG 899; 11. South Dakota State 909; 12. East Tennessee State 910; T13. Murray State 921; T13. Ball State 921; T13. UIC 921; 16. Little Rock 925.
Individual Leaders: 1. Alison Gastelum (NMSU) 209; 2. Madison Holmes (Central Arkansas) 211;
T3. Kaleiya Romero (Pepperdine) 214; T3. Bella Kil (Kennesaw State) 214; T3. Bella Kent (Wofford) 214;
T6. Lauren Gomez (Pepperdine) 216; T6. Alex Crafton (ETSU) 216; T6. Julie McLaughlin (High Point) 216;
T9. Lion Higo (Pepperdine) 217; T9. Lara Jecnik (Kennessaw State) 217; T9. Camilla Jarvela (Mercer) 217.
