SDSU WOMEN'S GOLF FINISHES EIGHTH AT MARCH MAYHEM

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo:  Natalie Vivaldi won two matches on Tuesday at the SDSU March Mayhem.  Courtesy goaztecs.com

March 21, 2017 (Rancho Santa Fe) - The San Diego State women's golf team capped off the 2017 SDSU March Mayhem match-play event with an eighth-place finish after dropping a trio of 3-2 decisions on Tuesday at The Farms Golf Club. The Aztecs experienced a narrow setback to Mountain West rival Fresno State in the completion of Monday's suspended second round, followed by a pair of close defeats to Old Dominion and Northwestern, respectively, in consolation play.

SDSU entered the day with a slim 2-1 advantage over Fresno State in the second round of the championship bracket on the strength of victories by junior Georgia Lacey and freshman Fernanda Escauriza. However, the Bulldogs emerged triumphant after escaping with final two matches. Aztec junior Haleigh Krause was all square with Kristin Simonsen through nine holes, but was forced to play catch-up after suffering back-to-back bogeys on No. 10 and No. 11, while her Bulldog adversary made two pars. Despite halving the next six holes, Krause ran out of time, losing 2 & 1.

Meanwhile, senior Sirene Blair found herself in a tight battle with Fresno State's Mimi Ho, nudging in front by one after sinking a birdie on the par-4 No. 6. However, the South Jordan, Utah, native was unable to build on the lead after suffering two bogeys on her next three holes. On the back nine, the two players were all square after No. 15, but Blair finished bogey-par-bogey, while Ho went par-bogey-par to hand the Scarlet and Black a heartbreaking loss.

Placed in the fifth-place bracket for round three, SDSU posted a pair of wins against Old Dominion, with Vivaldi dispatching Charlotte De Corte, 3 & 2, while Lacey registered an identical score in her victory over Rachel Walker. However, Blair was dealt another frustrating defeat as Sana Tufail claimed the final match, 1 up. Blair nursed a slim one-hole advantage after collecting a par at No. 1. However, an untimely bogey at No. 2, followed by a conceded hole at No. 3 due to penalty gave Tufail and the Monarchs the match.

With thunderstorms forecast for Wednesday, all fourth-round matches were moved up to Tuesday afternoon, as the Aztecs came up short in their seventh-place encounter with Northwestern. Krause and Escauriza halved their matches with Janet Mao and Sarah Cho, respectively, but SDSU was only able to muster one victory in the dual after Vivaldi routed Stephanie Lau, 5 & 4. The Rancho Buena Vista High alumna sank five birdies to key her win.

USC successfully defended its championship at the SDSU March Mayhem with a 5-0 blanking of Brigham Young, while Pepperdine edged Fresno State, 3-2, for third place. In the ninth-place bracket, California knocked off New Mexico 3.5-1.5 to claim the consolation title.

San Diego State resumes its spring schedule in just over two weeks, returning to stroke play for the PING/ASU Invitational, April 7-9, in Tempe, Ariz.

SDSU March Mayhem

March 21, 2017

The Farms Golf Club

Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

SDSU Results Only

ROUND TWO (Championship Bracket)

Fresno State 3, San Diego State 2

Individual Results

1. Mimi Ho (FS) def. Sirene Blair (SDSU), 1 up

2. Guðrún Björgvinsdottir (FS) def. Natalie Vivaldi (SDSU), 4&2

3. Kristen Simonsen (FS) def. Haleigh Krause (SDSU), 2&1

4. Georgia Lacey (SDSU) def. Yifei Wang (FS), 4&3

5. Fernanda Escauriza (SDSU) def. Joann Kim (FS), 5&3

ROUND THREE (Fifth-Place Consolation Bracket)

Old Dominion 3, San Diego State 2

Individual Results

1. Sana Tufail (ODU) def. Sirene Blair (SDSU), 1 up

2. Natalie Vivaldi (SDSU) def. Charlotte De Corte (ODU), 4&3

3. Katrina Vlasinova (ODU) def. Haleigh Krause (SDSU), 4&3

4. Georgia Lacey (SDSU) def. Rachel Walker (ODU), 4&3

5. Maggie Simmermacher (ODU) def. Fernanda Escauriza (SDSU), 6&4

ROUND FOUR (Seventh-Place Bracket)

Northwestern 3, San Diego State 2

Individual Results

1. Hannah Kim (NU) def. Sirene Blair (SDSU), 4&3

2. Natalie Vivaldi (SDSU) def. Stephanie Lau (NU), 5&4

3. Haleigh Krause (SDSU) vs. Janet Mao (NU), AS

4. Kacie Komoto (NU) def. Georgia Lacey (SDSU), 3&1

5. Fernanda Escauriza (SDSU) vs. Sarah Cho (NU), AS

Championship Match: USC def. Brigham Young, 5-0

Third-Place Match: Pepperdine def. Fresno State, 3-2

Consolation Final (Ninth Place Match): California def. New Mexico, 3.5-1.5