March 19, 2008

KANE`OHE, O`ahu -

Complete Results in PDF Format

The Wyoming Cowgirl golf team improved three spots in the team standings for the second consecutive day and finished in fifth place of 16 teams on Wednesday at the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational in Kane'ohe, O'ahu, Hawaii.

UW fired 316 (+28) during the final 18 holes and totaled 950 (+86) after the three-round event. The Cowgirls shot 314 (+26) on Monday and 320 (+32) on Tuesday.

Wyoming jumped from 11th after round one, to an eighth place tie after round two, to their fifth place position after the third and final round. The only schools to beat the Cowgirls were three nationally ranked top-ten programs (Arizona, Arizona State, Oklahoma State) and the tournament host Hawaii squad. UW earned head-to-head wins over Yale, Columbia, UTEP, Memphis and Mountain West Conference rival San Diego State, to name a few.

Oklahoma State, No. 9 in the nation, won the team title with a total of 880 (+16). Arizona (No. 7) was second at 893 (+29), followed by No. 4 ranked Arizona State with 897 (+33) and Hawai`i at 928 (+64).

"It was a good feeling to improve our team placing every day, especially since the course set-up was more difficult each round," said Cowgirl head coach Josey Stender. "Everyone was just steady throughout all three days. That is kind of how this team has evolved. We grind it out, keep it together and hang in there. The team is balanced top to bottom.

"We played with, and beat, both Memphis and Columbia today, both of which were conference champions in their respective leagues last season. Add to that a win over San Diego State and we are confident of our ability as we leave this tournament. It is huge for us to have that kind of confidence heading into our next event in Oregon, which is against a similarly difficult field."

Wyoming senior Lindsay Bauknecht concluded a solid tournament with a team-best round of 76 (+4). She tied for 17th in the field of 91 participants, the fifth top-25 finish of her career. Her event total of 234 (+18) was her career best for three rounds.

Cowgirl sophomore Sarah Fogerty tied for 24th with her 54-hole total of 237 (+21). UW senior Laura Mengelkamp used a final round of 78 (+6) to improve her standing and finish at 240 (+24). Sophomore Jonelle Martinez totaled 241 (+25) for Wyoming, while junior Mikala Henzlik closed at 245 (+29).

UA's Alison Walshe won individual honors as the only player under par at 213 (-3). OSU's Pernilla Lindberg finished in second with 218 (+2), followed by teammate Tamasin Clelland at 220 (+4) in third.

Hosted by the University of Hawaii, the event was played at the Kane'ohe Klipper Golf Course, which measures 5,907 yards and is par 72.

Wyoming's next competition will be at the Oregon Duck Invitational, March 24-25 in Eugene, Ore.