The Cowgirl golf team wrapped up its season last weekend at the Mountain West Championship in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Despite a career-best performance by Emily Woodard, the Cowgirls came in last place after three days of play on the 6,324-yard Dinah Shore Tournament Course at the Mission Hills Country Club.
Woodard led her team throughout the competition, capping off the tournament tied for 14th place out of the 45-player field. Woodard’s results marked the highest finish in the Mountain West tournament since Juanito Rico placed 11th during the 2012 tournament. The sophomore maintained a steady game, turning in scores a few strokes over the course’s par and ended the first round in 12th place after shooting a career-best 74 (+2). She followed up the competition’s first day by adding two more strokes onto her score after the second and third rounds. Woodard shot a total of 228 (+12).
“Emily is a perfect example of a golfer with patience and confidence and that can carry you so far on the golf course and I’m proud of how far she has come,” said Wyoming head coach Josey Stender. “It was great to see Emily step up these last couple of tournaments and our future is very bright.”
Senior Stacey Blunt kept Woodard on her toes, finishing 10 strokes shy of Woodard’s final score.
Due to the weather, Blunt experienced difficulties during the third round, after shooting 76 (+4) in the first round and 77 (+5) in the second, she added nine strokes onto her score for the third round. Blunt earned a 31st place finish in the field and a second place finish within her team.
“We made strides on a very difficult championship course,” said Stender. “Today was a difficult day for all teams as the temperature and wind played a major factor.”
Senior Emily Wood finished the tournament eight strokes and ten places behind Blunt. Adding one stroke onto her score after each round, Wood placed 31st in the field and third within her team; she would go on to shoot for a total of 246 (+30).
Ending the first day in 42nd place, Wood worked herself up the rankings after the second round to 40th place, but fell one spot after she shot 83 (+11) in the tournament’s final round.
Junior Samantha Stancato and freshman Mackenzie Barrie rounded out the rankings, placing 43rd and 45th, respectively.
In her first MW Championship appearance, Barrie shot a 171 (+27) after three rounds. Five strokes ahead of Barrie, Stancato shot a 166 (+22).
New Mexico won the tournament with a team score of 902 (+38), beating out San Jose State by one stroke. The Lobos jumped to the front of the field during the second round after shooting a 295 (+7) to take the lead from San Diego State.
Three schools tied for third-place: San Diego State, Fresno State and UNLV all shot 909 (+45).
Fresno State’s Gudrun Bjorgvinsdottir won the championship with an individual score of 218 (+2) after ending the first two rounds one under par. San Diego State’s Emma Henrikson and UNLV’s Dana Finkelstein tied for second, shooting a 219 (+3).
“I was proud of the way we persevered and got over the nerves and maintain our play,” Stender said. “We left a few shots out there, but overall it was a good effort and we know tomorrow is a new day.”
