The Cowgirls, led by their youth, placed ninth this past weekend at the Denver University Ron Moore Intercollegiate in Denver, Colo.
“We got off to a slow start [in the tournament],” head coach Josey Stender said. “I was pleased with our overall effort. I saw a lot of good things and some individual improvements.”
Setting the pace for Wyoming was a pair of sophomores Mackenzie Barrie and Taylor Dorans who both fired 234s (18-over) earning them a tie for 39th overall. Dorans played consistently throughout the tournament shooting rounds of 79 (7-over), 77 (5-over) and 78 (6-over). Barrie, on the other hand, opened with an 80 (8-over) before carding identical 77s (5-over) in rounds two and three.
Freshman Klara Castillo, played as an individual and also placed in a tie for 39th overall with a score of 234 (18-over). She opened the tournament firing rounds of 79 (7-over) and 80 (8-over) before closing with a strong round of 75 (3-over) in round three.
Also playing as an individual was freshman Sarah Hankins who finished up with a 235 (19-over) earning her a tie for 45th. She bookended her best round of 73 (1-over) in round two with an opening round 83 (11-over) and a closing round of 79 (7-over). Her 73 was the lowest score of any Cowgirl in the tournament.
“It was awesome to see Sarah go out and shoot her career-low today [second round],” said Stender.
Finishing third on the team was senior Samantha Stancato who carded a 237 (21-over) in route to placing in a tie for 51st. She opened with a round of 81 (9-over) and then closed with matching rounds of 78 (8-over).
Tying for fourth on the team and 54th overall were junior Kathleen Kershisnik and redshirt freshman Gabrielle Gibson who both shot a 238 (22-over). Kershisnik shot a solid first round of a 76 (4-over). She could not duplicate that success in the rounds two and three as she fired an 80 (8-over) and an 82 (10-over) respectively. Gibson, on the other hand, improved as the tournament progressed. She shot rounds of 81 (9-over), 79 (7-over) and 78 (6-over).
“It was great to see Kathleen play so well on familiar ground [in the first round],” said Stender.
Kansas State captured the team title with a score of 877 (13-over). Seven strokes behind the Wildcats was the team of Kansas who shot an 884 (20-over). Rounding out the top-three was the team of Long Beach State who carded a 888 (24-over).
Taking home the individual title with a score of 213 (3-under) was Kansas State’s senior Olivia Eliasson. Placing second, two strokes behind Eliasson, was Kansas’ junior Yupaporn Kawinpakorn who fired a 215 (1-under). Rounding the top three was another Jayhawk Pornvipa Sakdee a sophomore who carded a 217 (1-over).
Wyoming is scheduled to play one more tournament before winter break at the Rainbow Wahine Invitational in Honolulu, Hawaii on Oct. 21-23.
