AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Aztec women's golf team placed ninth out of 16 schools at the Valspar Augusta Invitational. SDSU had a 36-hole score of 609 (+33) and were led by Sara Kjellker and Bernice Olivarez Ilas who shot a 148 (+4) and tied for 10th.
Golfers were still dealing with cold temperatures but the high winds from Saturday were gone, leading to much lower scores across the board Sunday. The Aztecs bested their Saturday round by 19 strokes and had three individuals lower their scores by six or more strokes.
Kjellker and Olivarez Ilas each shot a 71 (-1). Kjellker had five birdies, including three in her first eight holes, and three bogeys. Kjellker's eight birdies tied for the most in the tournament. Olivarez Ilas had 12 pars yesterday and another 13 today to go with three birdies and two bogeys.
This was Kjellker's second straight top 10 finish and third on the year. She has finished in the top 20 in five of SDSU's six tournaments and has a team-high nine rounds under par (out of 16).
For Olivarez Ilas, it's her second straight top 20 finish and third on the year. Her 71 on Sunday was her fifth round below par this year.
Otten shot a 73 Sunday, a seven-stroke improvement from Saturday when there were high winds. She was one-over on the back nine and had nine straight pars on the front nine.
Both Anika Sato and Esti Garcia Rubio both had identical scores from Saturday. Sato shot an 80 with a 40 on both the front and back nine while Garcia Rubio shot an 82.
No. 4 South Carolina and No. 25 Ole Miss tied for first place with a 590 (+14). Augusta's Natalia Yoko, playing on her home course, took home the individual crown after being the only golfer to finish an even par (74-70).
STAT OF THE TOURNAMENT
Sara Kjellker had eight birdies in her 36 holes, tied for the most in the tournament. She also had the best average score on par fives (4.25).
THE NOTE
The average score was 4.05 strokes lower Sunday than Saturday.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs next tournament is the PING ASU Invitational March 25-27.
Valspar Augusta Invitational – Final Results (36 holes)
Forest Hills Golf Club – Par 72 | 6,244 yards
Team Scores (Top 5 & SDSU) – Out of 16
T-1. No. 4 South Carolina… 301-289 – 590 (+14)
T-2. No. 25 Ole Miss… 303-287 – 590 (+14)
3. No. 14 Florida State… 307-287 – 594 (+18)
4. No. 9 Alabama… 308-292 – 600 (+24)
T-5. No. 23 Virginia Tech… 312-293 – 605 (+29)
T-5. Augusta… 307-298 – 605 (+29)
--
9. San Diego State… 314-295 – 609 (+33)
Individual Scores (Top 5 & SDSU) – Out of 90 golfers
1. Natalia Yoko (Augusta)… 74-70 – 144 (E)
T-2. No. 26 Beatrice Wallin (Florida State)… 78-67 – 145 (+1)
T-2. No. 14 Hannah Darling (S. Carolina)… 72-72 – 145 (+1)
4. No. 36 Chiara Tamburlini (Ole Miss)… 73-73 – 146 (+2)
Five tied for 5th – 147 (+3)
--
T-10. Sara Kjellker (SDSU)… 77-71 – 148 (+4)
T-10. Bernice Olivarez Ilas (SDSU)… 77-71 – 148 (+4)
T-34. Anna Lina Otten (SDSU)… 80-73 – 153 (+9)
T-66. Anika Sato (SDSU)… 80-80 – 160 (+16)
T-79. Esti Garcia Rubio (SDSU)… 82-82 – 164 (+20)
Aztecs Place Ninth at Valspar Augusta Invitational
