Bears Jump Five Spots Over Last Two Rounds
FAIRFAX – The California women’s golf team had the second-best final round of any team in the Julie Inkster at Meadow Club Invitational on Tuesday, moving up five spots over the last 36 holes to finish in fifth place.
As a team, the Golden Bears ended the two-day, 54-hole tournament at 20-over par (299-295-290 – 884).
“When our team plays with their backs against the wall and they know they’ve got to perform, they come through,” Cal head coach Nancy McDaniel said. “They’ve got that down. It’s something that I think we’re embracing and I’m embracing how they’ve responded to adversity.”
Cal found itself in 10th place following the first round, but moved up to eighth before Monday’s rain-delayed action concluded. The Bears were led by Cristina Ochoa the rest of the way, who recovered from a slow start in round two before winding up with a 4-under 68, just one stroke shy of a season-best and tied for the third-best second-round score out of the 73-golfer field.
Ochoa ended the competition tied for sixth individually with an even 216.
“I think the big thing for Cristina is awareness and then action,” McDaniel said. “She’s becoming more and more aware of her blind spots and then she’s taking action on them. For her to turn it around in the second round and come back clicking on all cylinders, ready to go and having a really good attitude about it, that says something about where she’s at and the confidence level in her game.”
Also finishing in the top 20 was senior Tzu-Yi Chang, who was lauded by her head coach for her consistency after carding a 5-over par (73-74-74 – 221) for the tournament.
Junior Mika Jin tied for 27th at 7-over par, finishing strong with a team-best 1-under 71 in the final round. Freshman Adora Liu tied for 34th just one stroke behind Jin.
“Adora really started to click in her last round,” McDaniel said. “She took on this tournament in a new way and tried new ways of being on the course. That’s courageous.”
All three Bears who competed as individuals finished in the top 35 as well. Graduate student Annika Borrelli’s week was highlighted by a 3-under 69 in round three, seeing her finish tied for 24th at 6-over par. Sophomore Kaylyn Noh finished in 27th at 7-over par. Senior Kristine Tran used an excellent opening round to finish one shot behind Noh in a tie for 34th.
“Annika’s final round was very notable. Kristine…
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