The women’s golf team placed third in the Embry-Riddle Arizona Co-Ed Invitational, which took place on Sunday and Monday at the Talking Rock Golf Course. Biola finished only six strokes behind Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, who finished in second place.
Freshman Ava Lourenco placed fourth overall in the tournament, with a three-round total of 18-over-par 234 and her carding round totals were 78, 76 and 80. Senior Lauren Marlow came in eighth place with 23-over — shooting 239, 78-82-89 — and junior Jackie Mata placed 13th with a 29-over 245.
The women had struggles to overcome in the tournament, all relating to the draining nature of playing two rounds in one day.
“Going into this tournament we only had a few girls that had played 36 holes in one day, so we went in there with a mentality of let’s just do our best because this isn’t something that we’ve done a lot and most of us aren’t experienced in this area,” Marlow said. “So we’re just going to see how it goes and pace ourselves.”
California State University, San Marcos won the tournament on the women’s side with a score of 42-over, topping CMS who shot 102-over.
Biola men ride strong final round to fifth place finish
The men’s team took fifth place in the tournament with a total of 901. Senior Joshua Mathis was the third-rally leader, who also had the best score of the round with a six-under-par 66. Mathis ended up placing third overall in the tournament.
Freshman Kevin Vandekamp finished tied for 15th with Ben Ho and Justin Beck from Claremont-Mudd-Scripps with a 10-over 226, 71-81-74, and senior Nick Grady placed 21st with 229, 77-75-77.
California Lutheran University won the men’s tournament with a team score of 12-over, five strokes fewer than second place Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.
The Eagles are already looking ahead to the next tournament, which will be filled with NCAA Div. I schools.
“This is one of our bigger tournaments just because it is a [NCAA] Division I tournament and we’re playing against teams like UCLA [University of California, Los Angeles] and other similar schools are going to be there, so we are practicing every day and trying to make sure our swing is in the right position going into the tournament. Coach is having us work on our mental game as well,” Vandekamp said.
Both teams are set to play in the Firestone Grill Cal Poly Invitational Oct. 8 and 9 on the Monarch Dunes Golf Course in Nipomo.
