FAIRFAX, Calif. -- Bernice Olivarez Ilas is in a six-way tie for second place to lead the San Diego State women's golf team Monday at the Juli Inkster at Meadow Club Invitational. Playing 36 holes on the first day of the two-day, three-round tournament, Ilas is at 1-over-par 145 on the par-72, 6,157-yard course.
Ilas opened with an even-par 72 and followed with a 1-over-par 73, tied with San José State's Kajsa Arwefjall and Antonia Malate, Stanford's Rachel Heck, Sacramento State's Jennifer Koga and Washington's Rina Sasaki. The six competitors trail Washington's Stefanie Deng (-2) by three strokes.
In her even-par 72 in the first round, Ilas had three birdies and an eagle on the par-5, 464-yard ninth hole along with five bogeys. She finished her first 18 with six consecutive pars. In the second round, Ilas opened with three birdies through seven holes and was at 2-under, but took a bogey on the par-5, 508-yard 13th and a devastating double bogey on the par-4, 352-yard 18th to keep her out of red numbers for the day.
Sara Kjellker was in the mix early as well following a 2-under 70 in the opening round where she had four birdies and just two bogeys. Kjellker, however, couldn't get going in the second round after starting 7-over through her first 10 holes. She did shoot even par over the final eight holes, including a birdie on No. 13, to right the ship for a 7-over 79. After two rounds, Kjellker is tied for 13th at 5-over 149.
Freshman Andrea Gomez is a shot back of Kjellker in a tie for 18th at 6-over 150 following back-to-back 75s. In the first round, Gomez birdied the ninth and the par-4, 348-yard 10th to get back to even par but had three bogeys the rest of the way en route to her first 75. Her second 75 was a little more unconventional, scattering two birdies, three bogeys and two double bogeys with an eagle on the par-4, 350-yard fourth hole. After driving the ball in the fairway, her approach shot hit the green and funneled down into the hole for the only eagle on a par-4 today for all 66 competitors.
Anna Lina Otten had matching 79s and is tied for 50th at 14-over 158, while April Ranches is tied for 63rd at 21-over 165 following an 80 and 85.
As a team, the Aztecs, who are 34th in the latest Golfstat rankings (released March 2), are in sixth place at 26-over 602, still in striking distance of the top 3. Washington leads at 3-over 579, followed by Brigham Young (+17), No. 11 Stanford (+19), No. 37 San José State (+21) and Sacramento State (+23).
The Juli Inkster at Meadow Club Invitational wraps up Tuesday with the final round, as SDSU tees off from the first hole at 7:30 a.m. PT with San José State and Sacramento State.
Juli Inkster at Meadow Club Invitational
Fairfax, Calif.
Day One Results
Meadow Club
Par 72, 6,157 yards
Team Standings (Top 5 of 12 teams + SDSU) (rankings are Golfstat)
1. Washington…287-292—579 (+3)
2. Brigham Young…291-302—593 (+17)
3. No. 11 Stanford…295-300—595 (+19)
4. No. 37 San José State…296-301—597 (+21)
5. Sacramento State…297-302—599 (+23)
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6. No. 34 San Diego State…296-306—602 (+26)
Individual Leaders (Top 5 of 66 players + SDSU)
1. Stefanie Deng (Washington)…74-68—142 (-2)
T2. Bernice Olivarez Ilas (San Diego State)…72-73—145 (+1)
T2. Kajsa Arwefjall (San José State)…73-72—145 (+1)
T2. Rachel Heck (Stanford)…72-73—145 (+1)
T2. Antonia Malate (San José State)…72-73—145 (+1)
T2. Jennifer Koga (Sacramento State)…70-75—145 (+1)
T2. Rina Sasaki (Washington)…68-77—145 (+1)
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T13. Sara Kjellker (San Diego State)…70-79—149 (+5)
T18. Andrea Gomez (San Diego State)…75-75—150 (+6)
T50. Anna Lina Otten (San Diego State)…79-79—158 (+14)
T63. April Ranches (San Diego State)…80-85—165 (+21)
Women's Golf in Sixth at Juli Inkster Tournament
