WOMEN'S GOLF FINISHES THIRD AT WSU INLAND CUP

9/24/2009

PULLMAN, Wash. — Led by a final round 74 from sophomore Justine Chen, the Sacramento State women's golf team finished third at the WSU Inland Cup at the Palouse Ridge Golf Club on Wednesday.

The Hornets shot 308-305-305-918 in the final round to finish only behind Idaho (903) and Nevada (916). The team finished with a sizable lead over fourth-place Gonzaga (932) and Fresno State and Oregon who tied for fifth at 933.

"I'm feeling good about our start to the year," head coach David Sutherland said. "I'm a little disappointed that we didn't finish in the top two but we significantly beat two Pac-10 teams and a lot of Big Sky schools."

Chen was the fourth different member of the team to post a low round at the tournament. Sophomore Samantha Saffold led the team on Monday with a round of 75. On Tuesday, sophomore Julie Shutler and freshman Kercia Brakel each shot 75.

Wednesday, Chen began her round with five consecutive pars before bogeying the par-3 sixth. She quickly moved back to even with a birdie on the par-4 seventh and made the turn at 1-over with a bogey on the par-5 ninth. The back nine played much like the front as Chen carded seven straight pars. A bogey on the par-5 sixth was the only blemish on that side and her total of 74 was tied for the third lowest of the day. Chen finished the tournament with the best finish on the team as she tied for 11th at 76-79-74-229.

Saffold ranked second on the team with a tie for 13th (75-78-77-230). During the final round, Saffold was 3-over through the first three holes but then added five straight pars before a bogey gave her a 40 for the front side. On the back, Saffold pieced together seven pars with only two bogeys.

Brooke Green posted her second straight round of 77 to finish 17th overall with a 54-hole total of 232. Green was even through the first six holes but then triple-bogeyed the par-4 seventh to leave her at 3-over through nine. Green recorded pars on the first five holes of the back nine and then ended her round with three bogeys and a birdie on the final four holes.

Shutler tied for 20th with a total of 79-75-81-235. The sophomore battled through the front with three pars, five bogeys and a double-bogey. Her back nine was much smoother with seven pars and two bogeys.

Brakel continued her move up the standings with a final round 77. The freshman tied for 27th overall and played her final two rounds at 8-over (87-85-77-239). Brakel bogeyed four straight holes to stand at 4-over through her first six. From that point, she birdied the par-4 seventh and then posted seven straight pars. She concluded her round with two bogeys and two pars.

"Kercia gave us strong play from No. 5," Sutherland said. "She's a tournament player who makes a lot of putts. It makes it a whole lot easier on the rest of the team  when he can get a good score from that spot."

Hannah Summerhays played the first two rounds as an individual but withdrew due to a wrist injury prior to the third round.

Idaho's Kayla Mortellaro was the medalist with a total of 74-71-74-219. Teammate Amanda Jacobs and Oregon State's Cara Freeman tied for second at 220.

Sacramento State will next compete at the Hawkeye Invitational on Oct. 17-18.

TEAM SCORES
1. Idaho 309-292-302-903
2. Nevada 307-306-303-916
3. Sacramento State 308-305-305-918
4. Gonzaga 312-309-311-932
T5. Fresno State 323-306-304-933
T5. Oregon State 309-318-306-933
7. Montana 318-311-307-936
8. Washington State 320-304-316-940
9. Portland State 320-319-324-963
10. Boise State 324-329-317-970
11. Weber State 343-319-329-991
12. Seattle 336-319-337-992
13. Eastern Washington 333-336-327-996

INDIVIDUAL TOP FIVE
1. Kayla Mortellaro, UI, 74-71-74-219
T2. Cara Freeman, OSU, 74-77-69-220
T2. Amanda Jacobs, UI, 72-74-74-220
4. Teo Poplawksi, UI 80-69-75-224
5. Ali Thompson, WSU, 77-71-77-225

SACRAMENTO STATE SCORES
T11. Justine Chen 76-79-74-229
17. Brooke Green 78-77-77-232
T20. Julie Shutler 79-75-81-235
T27. Kercia Brakel 87-75-77-239
WD. Hannah Summerhays