NAPA, Calif. – San Diego State's Fernanda Escauriza (Asuncion, Paraguay) fired a 1-under-par 71 on Monday to lead the Aztec women's golf team during the second round of the Silverado Showdown at Silverado Resort and Spa.
With her card, the SDSU junior vaulted 42 places into a tie for 16th place individually at 4-over 148, heading into Tuesday's final round on the par-72, 6,120-yard North Course.
As a team, the Aztecs slipped one spot to 12th place in the standings at 32-over 608 after posting a combined 18-over 306 during the second round. Consequently, the Scarlet and Black remains four shots behind 11th-place Pepperdine (+28) and five in back of Wisconsin (+27) with 18 holes left to play.
On a day when individual scoring averages ballooned from 75.97 to 76.77, Escauriza was the lone SDSU player display upward mobility on the leaderboard, thanks to a team-high four birdies, including three on the back nine after starting on the 10th tee. Among her conversions was an impressive drain on the par-4, 345-yard No. 3, which ranks as the third-toughest hole of the week.
As a result, Escauriza climbed to within eight shots of Northwestern's front-runner Brooke Riley (-4), while Wildcat teammates Stephanie Lau (-2) and Kelly Sim (-1) follow close behind, along with San José State's Natasha Andrea Oon (-1).
Unfortunately, the rest of the Aztec contingent lost ground on Tuesday, including Sara Kjellker (Hollviken, Sweden), who tumbled 17 places into a tie for 32nd at 7-over 151 on the heels of a second-round 78. Despite a team-high 12 pars, the SDSU sophomore was unable generate any momentum, suffering three bogeys and two double bogeys while sinking one birdie on her finishing hole at the par-5 ninth.
Likewise, Kitty Tam (Hong Kong, China) found birdies elusive en route to a 78 of her own. After logging her second bogey at the par-3 15th, the Aztec senior was just 2-over for the day but managed to right the ship somewhat with five straight pars. However, a double bogey on the par-4 No. 3, followed by two more bogeys down the stretch, hastened her drop of 10 places into a tie for 54th at 10-over 154.
April Ranches (San Diego, Calif.) slipped further, falling 22 spots in a tie for 66th at 12-over 156 after shooting an 80. The SDSU freshman was plagued by seven bogeys on her first 10 holes, but rebounded with seven pars after the turn, with her lone blemish during that stretch occurring at the par-5 fifth where she made double bogey.
The Aztec starting five was also represented by Gioia Carpinelli (Bopplesen, Switzerland), who finished the day in a tie for 84th at 16-over 160 after carding a 79. The SDU sophomore had a stretch of five consecutive pars on the front nine and another four after the turn. However, three bogeys and two double bogeys overall proved too much to overcome.
With three golfers occupying the top three spots individually, Northwestern (E) opened up an 11-shot lead over Stanford (+11) in the race for the team trophy, while USC (+12) and San Jose State (+13) remain in third and fourth, respectively, followed by Oregon (+17) and Washington (+18).
The Silverado Showdown concludes on Tuesday with final-round action, as San Diego State tees off alongside Pepperdine and Wisconsin in a shotgun start on holes 9-12, beginning at 8 a.m. PT.
Silverado Showdown
Napa, Calif.
Round Two Results
Silverado Resort-North Course
Par 72, 6,120 yards
Team Standings (Top 5 schools + SDSU)
1. Northwestern...291-285—576 (E)
2. Stanford...294-293—587 (+11)
3. USC...291-297—588 (+12)
4. San José State...289-300—589 (+13)
5. Oregon...297-296—593 (+17)
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12. San Diego State...302-306—608 (+32)
Individual Leaders (Top 5 of 93 players + SDSU)
1. Brooke Riley, Northwestern...70-70—140 (-4)
2. Stephanie Lau, Northwestern...70-72—142 (-2)
T3. Kelly Sim, Northwestern...75-68—143 (-1)
T3. Natasha Andrea Oon, San José State...74-69—143 (-1)
5. Gabriela Ruffels, USC...72-72—144 (E)
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T16. Fernanda Escauriza, SDSU...77-71—148 (+4)
T32. Sara Kjellker, SDSU...73-78—151 (+7)
T54. Kitty Tam, SDSU...76-78—154 (+10)
T66. April Ranches, SDSU...76-80—156 (+12)
T84. Gioia Carpinelli, SDSU...81-79—160 (+16)
Escauriza Leads W. Golf in Round Two at Silverado
