WOMEN'S GOLF FINISHES SECOND; CHEN AND SAFFOLD PLACE IN TOP FOUR

3/24/2009

ELK GROVE, Calif. — Sophomore Samantha Saffold shot 74 in the second round of the Sacramento State Invitational on Tuesday and helped the Hornets to a second place finish at Valley Hi Country Club.

Sacramento State shot 308 on the day and ended the tournament with a two-round total of 624. Tuesday’s performance lifted the team ahead of Montana State (311-317-628) in the standings and placed them six strokes off the pace of Santa Clara (310-308-618) for the top spot. North Dakota (342-322-664) and Cal State Bakersfield (339-332-671) completed the field.

Saffold’s round was the second best of the day, following only Santa Clara’s Mike Ueoka who was the medalist after shooting 75-71-146. On Tuesday, Saffold opened with a pair of pars before bogeying the par-4 third hole. A birdie on the par-5 fourth led to a pair of pars to leave her even through the first six holes. A bogey on the par-3 seventh and two more pars had her make the turn at 1-over. On the back nine, Saffold scattered three pars and two bogeys in the first five holes. From that point she parred the next three holes and ended with a birdie on the par-5 18th.

While Saffold had the best day among Hornet golfers, freshman Justine Chen had the best overall finish. Chen was third with rounds of 76-78-154. UC Davis’ Lauren Dobashi placed second at 76-76-152 while Saffold tied for fourth with MSU’s Kelly Gillum and Leslie McGetrick.

Sacramento State was also able to count a pair of other scores in the seventies during the second round. Freshman Julie Shutler shot 77 and tied for seventh overall with a total of 156. Junior Brooke Green tied for 11th at 80-79-159.
The Hornets will next compete at the Anteater Invitational from March 30-April 1. The 54-hole tournament will take place at the Dove Canyon Country Club.

TEAM SCORES
1. Santa Clara 310-308-618
2. Sacramento State 316-308-624
3. Montana State 311-317-628
4. North Dakota 342-322-664
5. Cal State Bakersfield 339-332-671
 
INDIVIDUAL TOP FIVE
1. Mike Ueoka, SC, 75-71-146
2. Lauren Dobashi, UCD, 76-76-152
3. Justin Chen, SAC, 76-78-154
T4. Samantha Saffod, SAC, 81-74-155
T4. Kelly Gillum, MSU, 75-80-155
T4. Leslie McGetrick, MSU, 79-76-155
 
SACRAMENTO STATE SCORES
3. Justine Chen 76-78-154
T4. Samantha Saffold 81-74-155
T7. Julie Shutler 79-77-156
T11. Brooke Green 80-79-159
T20. Sasha Cruz* 80-85-165
T26. Hayley Hollway* 83-87-170
32. Annie Becker 89-86-175
* Competed as an individual