Aztecs Take Fourth in First Tournament of 2021 Season

ALBUQUERQUE N.M. –  The Aztec women's golf team came in fourth place (out of 16) teams at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational Tuesday morning at the UNM Championship Course.
 
The Aztecs were led by Sara Kjellker, who tied for sixth place with a 2-under 216, and finished the 54 holes with a score of eight-over 864.
 
BYU won the tournament, shooting 8-under in the final round to finish 6-under. Pepperdine's Kaleiya Romero (-10) was the individual champion after beating BYU's Lila Galeai in the first playoff hole.
 
After being 3-under through the first two rounds, the Aztecs were 11-over in their final round. Freshman Esti Garcia Rubio had the best round of the day, finishing 1-over 72.
 
Kjellker, whose 6-under 72 in the second round yesterday tied her career-best score, was two-over in her final round. After being three-over on the front nine, she rebounded to shoot a one-under on the back nine. Kjellker has been the top Aztec finisher in seven of their last eight tournaments.
 
Bernice Olivarez Ilas came in 11th place with a career-best score of one-under 216. She shot a three-over 72 in the final round. After three straight bogeys on holes 2-5, she was an even par the rest of the way.
 
Anna Lina Otten finished tied for 34th with a 5-over 216, beating her previous-best 54-hole score by seven strokes. On Tuesday, she had four birdies but also seven bogeys and a double-bogey on 11.
 
The freshmen duo of Anika Sato and Esti Garcia Rubio both tied for 66th with 13-over 216. Garcia Rubio's round three 73 was a result of two birdies and three bogeys. Sato finished her six-over round with a birdie (hole No. 1).
 
STAT OF THE TOURNAMENT
Bernice Olivarez Ilas (-1, 215) and Anna Lina Otten (+5, 221) each had the lowest 54-hole score of their career.
 
UP NEXT
The Aztecs are back in action in two weeks at the Golfweek Conference Challenge (Sept. 27-29) in Wolcott, Colo. (Red Sky Golf Club).
 
Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational
Albuquerque, N.M. – UNM Championship Course – Par 72 (6,317 yards)
Team Standings (Top 5 of 16 teams)
1. BYU… 858 (-6, 291-287-280)
2. San Jose State… 863 (-1, 294-277-292)
3. New Mexico… 866 (+2, 288-289-289)
4. San Diego State… 872 (+8, 288-285-299)
5. Pepperdine… 874 (+10, 298-289-287)
 
Individual Players (Top 5 of 93 players + SDSU)
T-1. Kaleiya Romero (Pepperdine)… 206 (-10, 70-67-69) – Won first playoff hole
T-1. Lila Galeai (BYU)… 206 (-10, 66-70-70)
3. Napat Lertsadwattana (New Mexico)… 209 (-7, 69-72-68)
4. Antonio Malate (SJSU)… 210 (-6, 69-69-72)
5. Sera Tadokoro (Kansas)… 212 (-4, 71-71-70)
T-6. Sara Kjellker (SDSU)… 214 (-2, 74-66-74)
11.  Bernice OlivarezIlas (SDSU)… 215 (-1, 70-70-75) – CAREER BEST
T-33. Anna Lina Otten (SDSU)… 221 (+5, 70-74-77) – CAREER BEST
T-66. Anika Sato (SDSU)… 229 (+13, 74-77-78)
T-66. Esti Garcia Rubio (SDSU)… 229 (+13, 81-75-73)