WOMEN'S GOLF FINISHES FIFTH AT BIG SKY CHAMPIONSHIPS; SAFFOLD PLACES FOURTH
4/23/2008
PHOENIX, Ariz. — The Sacramento State women's golf team saved its best for the final round of the Big Sky Conference Championship on Wednesday at the Foothills Golf Club. The Hornets shot 300 as a team during the final day of play — the lowest round among the nine teams by four strokes — and finished in fifth place.
Freshman Samantha Saffold led the way, shooting a 1-over 73 and ended the three-round event in fourth place with a total of 75-78-73-226. On Wednesday, Saffold opened play with a birdie of the par-4 1st hole before parring the next six holes. The Sacramento native then moved to 2-under with a birdie on the par-5 8th. However, a bogey at nine gave her a 35 on the front nine. A par on 10 was followed by a bogey on 11 and a double-bogey on the par-5 12th. From that point, Saffold responded with four-straight pars before birdying the par-5 17th. She closed out her round with a par on 18.
Sacramento State also took advantage of a great effort from senior Erica Yoshino. The Stockton, Calif., native shot 74 in the final round and ended the tournament tied for 27th (83-82-74-239). Yoshino was steady from the start of her third round, parring the first nine holes. A bogey on 10 ended her streak and was followed by a double-bogey on 11. However, she bounced back with birdies on the par-5 12th and the par-4 14th. Yoshino closed out her round with a birdie, two pars and two bogeys.
For the first time in the tournament, the Hornets were able to count four scores in the 70s. Joining Saffold and Yoshino were senior Heather LeMaster 76 and sophomore Brooke Green (77). LeMaster carded four more birdies during her round and finished with a tournament-best 11 over the three rounds. Her total of 85-74-76-235 placed her 21st overall. Green finished tied for 10th overall at 80-73-77-230.
Portland State was able to hold off Northern Arizona and Eastern Washington to win its fourth Big Sky title in school history. The Vikings finished the tournament with a three-round score of 911 while NAU shot 913 and EWU posted a 914.
Individually, PSU's Hannah Bews was the medalist with rounds of 73, 75 and 72. Her total of 220 was two-strokes better than Northern Arizona Ali Carter and three ahead of Montana's Carrisa Simmons.
The tournament was the final event for Sacramento State during the 2007-08 season. The Hornets, however, will serve as host of the NCAA Women's West Regional on May 8-10 at Lincoln Hills Golf Club.
TEAM SCORES
1. Portland State 306-297-308-911
2. Northern Arizona 302-307-304-913
3. Eastern Washington 300-310-304-914
4. Montana 310-307-304-921
5. SACRAMENTO STATE 321-307-300-928
6. Northern Colorado 308-309-322-939
7. Montana State 326-314-308-948
8. Weber State 327-320-311-958
9. Idaho State 336-321-329-986
PHOENIX, Ariz. —
