SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego State women's golf team was more than halfway into its spring season when the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic struck the United States and effectively changed all sports (college and professional) as we know it. Some leagues chose to suspend events, while others, like the NCAA, chose to cancel the rest of competition.
Just like that, collegiate golf was over for Aztec seniors Fernanda Escauriza and Daniela Anastasi. No opportunity to defend the Mountain West championship it won in 2019. No chance to make a run in the NCAA Regional. No possibility of closure or celebration with their fellow teammates.
The duo, however, were key cogs within the San Diego State program.
An Asunción, Paraguay, native, Escauriza made an immediate impact when she joined the Aztecs in the 2016-17 season. That year, Escauriza became SDSU's first-ever individual women's golf champion at the conference tournament when she claimed medalist honors at the MW Championship, posting a 6-under 210. The 210 is tied for the second-lowest total in conference tournament history as she became just the second MW champion in conference history to card all three rounds below par (71-69-70). She was named the MW Freshman of the Year and was a second-team all-league selection before tying for 45th at the NCAA Lubbock Regional.
In her sophomore campaign in 2017-18, Escauriza logged three top-20 placements, highlighted by an eighth-place showing at the MW Championship at 4-over 220, helping San Diego State to a second-place team finish for a second straight season. She was a MW all-academic team selection.
As a junior in 2018-19, Escauriza garnered second-team all-MW honors for a second time after recording a 74.71 stroke average, the 10th-lowest mark in the league. She posted five top-20 finishes, including three in the top 10. Her best 18-hole score was a 67 in the second round of the Branch/McGuire Invitational, which is tied for sixth in program history. Over winter break of her junior campaign, Escauriza captured the 14th annual South American Amateur Championship, carding a 72-hold total of 12-under 276 in Santiago, Chile. She then logged a solo fourth-place showing at the MW Championship at 5-over 221 to help the Aztecs to the conference title. Escauriza finished her season by tying for 51st at the NCAA Cle Elum Regional, later earning MW all-academic recognition for a second straight season.
This past season, Escauriza competed in seven tournaments and 18 stroke play rounds, each tied for the most on the team. She had a 75.22 scoring average, which ranked third on the team, and tied for the most even-par rounds (3). She got off to a good start in the spring, going 3-0 at the Lamkin Invitational in match play, helping the Aztecs to the team title. She then followed with a 25th-place finish at the Bruin Wave before ending the season at the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational, just a day before the rest of competition was canceled.
Fernanda Escauriza at a Glance
Honors
* 2019 South American Amateur Champion
* 2016-17 Mountain West Individual Champion
* 2016-17 Mountain West Freshman of the Year
* Two-time Second-Team All-Mountain West Selection (2016-17 and 2018-19)
* Two-time Mountain West All-Academic Team (2017-18 and 2018-19)
Career Collegiate Low 18: 67 (Sept. 10, 2019)
Career Collegiate Low 54: 210 (April 18-19, 2017)
NCAA Regional
2019: T-51st at Cle Elum (72-76-76--224)
2017: T-45th at Lubbock (77-72-76--225)
Mountain West Championships
2019: 4th (73-72-76--221)
2018: T-8th (78-75-68--220)
2017: 1st (71-69-70--210)
Major: Interdisciplinary Studies
7 Iron Carry Distance: 150 yards
Fact No. 1: Won the 2019 South American Amateur championship
Fact No. 2: Represented Paraguay at the Espirito Santo Cup
Fact No. 3: Loves her Callaway driver
Fact No. 4: Was recruited through former Aztec Mila Chaves, who is also from Asunción, Paraguay
Fact No. 5: Is said to have the biggest heart on the team
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Anastasi, meanwhile, began her collegiate career at UC Davis during the 2015-16 season. The La Jolla, Calif., native made eight starts in her one season with the Aggies, playing in 21 rounds. Her best finish was a 16th-place tie during the medal phase of the East-West Match Classic in Madison, Wis. She also tied for 30th at the Big West Championships in Lahaina, Hawaii.
In her first season with SDSU in 2016-17, Anastasi played in one tournament, tying for 76th at the season-opening Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational at 13-over 229. She fired a 71 in the final round, highlighted by four birdies and was named a Mountain West scholar-athlete.
In 2017-18, Anastasi played in two tourneys in the fall as an individual competitor, recording a 75.17 scoring average. Her best finish was at the UC Irvine Invitational, where she tied for 14th at 6-over 222. The 222 was the second-best score on the team, thanks to a season-low 71 in the final round. She once again received MW scholar-athlete recognition.
Anastasi's best season was the 2018-19 campaign when she earned her first varsity letter with San Diego State after appearing in eight tournaments with six starts. Anastasi carded an Aztec career-low 5-over 221 as an individual competitor at the UC Irvine Invitational, where she tied for 23rd. She also helped SDSU capture its second MW championship in the last five years, counting two rounds toward the Scarlet and Black's winning team score. Anastasi ended the season in 91st at the NCAA Cle Elum Regional, before landing a spot on the WGCA Scholar All-American Team to go with MW all-academic accolades and MW scholar-athlete distinction for the third year in a row.
This past season, Anastasi competed in two tournaments, tying for 40th at the Branch/McGuire Invitational and tying for 60th at the Molly Murphy Crowley Collegiate.
Daniela Anastasi at a Glance
Honors
* 2018-19 WGCA Scholar All-American Team
* 2018-19 Mountain West All-Academic Team
* Three-time Mountain West Scholar-Athlete (2018-19, 2017-18, 2016-17)
Career Collegiate Low 18: 70 (Sept. 11, 2018)
Career Collegiate Low 54: 221 (Oct. 29-30, 2018)
NCAA Regional
2019: T-91st at Cle Elum (79-81-84--244)
Mountain West Championships
2019: T-34th (82-80-80--242)
Big West Championships
2016: T-30th (83-82-79--244)
Major: Interdisciplinary Studies
7 Iron Carry Distance: 145 yards
Fact No. 1: Was a captain of the 2018-19 team
Fact No. 2: Is a San Diego native
Fact No. 3: Is a life-long Aztec (transferred to SDSU from UC Davis to follow her true college dream)
Fact No. 4: Dreams to be the No. 1 golfer on the LPGA
Fact No. 5: Is an IMG tournament director