Cats Fire Blistering Low Scores In Final Round in Guadalajara

GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Arizona Women’s Golf saved its best for last at the Collegiate Invitational at Guadalajara Country Club by shooting 1-under as a team and moving up four spots on the final day of the event. Arizona’s sixth-place finish at 33-over was propelled by sophomore Carolina Melgrati’s final round of 68, which was one of three total rounds of 68 or lower carded. The Wildcats’ 1-under performance in Monday’s final round was an 18-stroke improvement from its first and second round scores.

“I am very proud of how our team responded today after a challenging start to the tournament,” said head coach Laura Ianello. “We were 10-under as a team on the front nine today, which was a testament to our young ladies’ resiliency and determination. We will ride the momentum of this strong final round with us as we prepare for our next tournament and use this entire week in Mexico as a learning experience.”

 

After 1??8??0?? rounds played at Collegiate Invitational in Guadalajara, Carolina Melgrati cards 1?? of 3?? rounds of 68 or lower. #BearDown pic.twitter.com/mkZPAP8Eo4

— Arizona Women’s Golf (@ArizonaWGolf) February 6, 2023

Senior Gile Bite Starkute finished the event as Arizona’s top player at 4-over par, which put her in a tie for seventh place. Her consistent and steady play throughout a challenging week at GCC ended with rounds of 73, 73 and 74 for her the top-10 finish of her career. Melgrati, whose third-round score of 68 matched her career best, capped the event in a tie with teammate Julia Misemer for 18^th place at 9-over.

Starkute proved to be the queen of the par 3’s in Mexico, finishing first in the field with an average of 2.75 strokes on the course’s shortest holes. Misemer was second out of 63 players in par-5 scoring at 4.67 stroke average for the week.

It will be a quick turnaround for Arizona as they return to competition for the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge on Sunday, Feb. 12 in Palos Verdes, California.