The Cowgirls concluded their play at the Fresno State Lexus Classic on Tuesday by placing 12th in the final team standings at 927 (+63).
The team exited the course having three Cowgirls set several season bests: lowest team round, best individual finish, lowest individual total score and lowest individual round.
“I feel like the Fresno event was a great warm up to the Mountain West Championship next week,” head coach Josey Stender said. ”It was good to gauge where we are as a team and individually and where we need to polish a few areas of our game.”
The Cowgirls shot 312 (+24) in the final round at Copper River Country Club, while Long Beach State won the 15-team event by one stroke over Tulsa with a total of 892 (+28). In the Lexus Classic, UW competed against eight teams ranked in the nation’s top 45, including No. 1 USC.
Taking fourth in individual standings, sophomore Samantha Stancato fired a 75 (+3) in Tuesday’s final round, which bumped her up from her original standing at fifth place individually.
Stancato shot a double bogey and bogey in her first three holes during Tuesday’s event. She fought back with just two bogeys over the next 11 holes and notched birdies on two of the final four holes to card the lowest tournament score by a Cowgirl this season. Her finish is the highest for a Wyoming golfer since Juanita Rico, who finished fourth at the same event last season. Stancato earned the highest finish of her career and fourth career top 25 finish.
“I am extremely proud of Sam’s [Stancato] performance in Fresno especially with the very competitive field and difficult golf course,” Stender said. “She is a very hard worker and great teammate who has learned a lot about her game these past few months.”
Cowgirl senior Dana Zamprelli and freshman Kathleen Kershisnik also put in good performances this week.
Zamprelli hit a 78 (+6) in the third round to finish tied for 45th at 233 (+17), while Kershisnik totaled 237 (+21) with a 77 (+5) on the final day to tie for 58th.
“Golf is a funny sport where we play against the course and no two days or courses are the same as far as elements and course conditions. We talk a lot about being a student of the game while being true to who you are and I feel very confident that each player has improved in all or some aspects of their games because of those reasons,” Stender said.
The University of Wyoming women’s golf team will have its last eight days off this season before wrapping up 2012-13 at the Mountain West Championship, which will take place April 25-27 in Rancho Mirage, Calif., All teams are expected to play 18 holes each day.
