SDSU WOMEN'S GOLFER SARA KJELLKER TIES FOR SIXTH AT TEXAS TOURNEY

Aztecs tie for ninth in team standings at Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

October 10, 2017 (Austin) - San Diego State women’s golfer Sara Kjellker (Hollviken, Sweden) tied for sixth on the individual leaderboard at the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational on Tuesday after firing an even-par 72 during the final round at the University of Texas Golf Club.

With her total, the Aztec freshman climbed 15 places into a tie for sixth at 2-over 218, along with Arizona State’s Olivia Mehaffey, Clemson’s Alice Hewson and UNLV’s Polly Mack.

Despite five bogeys, including three on her back nine, Kjellker still recorded her first top-10 collegiate finish thanks to a team high five birdies. Among her conversions was an impressive drain on the par-4, 387-yard No. 6, which ranked as the fourth-toughest hole of the tournament.

Collectively, SDSU moved up one notch in the team standings into a tie for ninth after logging a 24-over 312 over the final 18 holes on the par-72, 6,491-yard layout. With average individual scores ballooning by over four strokes from the previous round (74.53-78.58), the Aztecs completed the event at 41-over 905, along with Oklahoma.

In addition to Kjellker, Gioia Carpinelli (Boppelsen, Switzerland) was the only other SDSU player to gain ground on Tuesday, vaulting 10 places into a tie for 48th at 13-over 229 after shooting a final-round 77.  The Aztec freshman got off to a rocky start with six bogeys on her first eight holes before righting the ship with seven pars and two birdies on the fifth and ninth greens. However, a bogey on her final hole, the par-3, 166-yard No. 12, prevented a steeper ascent.

Georgia Lacey (Del Mar, Calif.) finished one stroke ahead of Carpinelli in a tie for 39th at 12-over 228, tumbling 14 places on the heels of an 81. The SDSU senior sank three birdies, including a successful make on the aforementioned sixth green, but was unable to overcome a rash of six bogeys and three doubles, which hastened her drop.

Elsewhere, Haleigh Krause (Eugene, Ore.) experienced a dearth of birdies in her round, carding an 82 to slip four places into a tie for 63rd at 19-over 235. Despite seven pars over a nine-hole stretch, the Aztec senior carded bogeys on her first five greens and could not recover.

The SDSU lineup also featured Mila Chaves (Asuncion, Paraguay), who fell 16 places into 69th with a 20-over 236. A double bogey on her first hole, the par-3 No. 12, was an ominous sign for the Aztec senior, who managed just three pars on the day before finishing with birdies on her two of her final three holes en route to an uncharacteristic 85.

Buoyed by a 1-2 finish on the individual leaderboard, host Texas (+2) captured the team title in convincing fashion, winning by 15 strokes over second-place Furman (+17), while Arizona State (+18) landed in the third spot, followed by Houston (+26) and UNLV (+35).

The Longhorns’ Sophia Schubert was one of just two players in the field of 81 golfers to shoot in red figures Tuesday, firing a 71 to capture medalist honors with a 6-under 210, while teammate Emilee Hoffman (-2) finished four strokes behind in second, followed by the Furman duo of Haylee Harford (-1) and Natalie Srinivasan (E).

San Diego State will have the next four months off from competition before opening its 2018 spring slate at the Northrop Regional Challenge, Feb. 11-13, in Palos Verdes Estates, California.

Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational

Final Results

University of Texas G.C.

Austin, Texas

Par 72, 6,491 yards

Team Standings (Top 5 of 15 teams + SDSU)

1. Texas                                                                             286-282-298—866 (+2)

2. Furman                                                                         299-293-289—881 (+17)

3. Arizona State                                                               294-287-301—882 (+18)

4. Houston                                                                       292-298-300—890 (+26)

5. UNLV                                                                            303-287-309—899 (+35)                                               

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T9. San Diego State                                                        303-290-312—905 (+41)

Individual Leaders (Top 5 of 81 players + SDSU)        

1. Sophia Schubert, Texas                                               69-70-71—210 (-6)

2. Emilee Hoffman, Texas                                               71-67-76—214 (-2)

3. Haylee Harford, Furman                                             73-70-72—215 (-1)

4. Natalie Srinivasan, Furman                                        74-71-71—216 (E)

5. Leonie Harm, Houston                                               74-70-73—217 (+1)

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T6. Sara Kjellker, SDSU                                                   75-71-72—218 (+2)

T39 Georgia Lacey, SDSU                                               73-74-81—228 (+12)

T48. Gioia Carpinelli, SDSU                                            79-73-77—229 (+13)

T63. Haleigh Krause, SDSU                                            76-77-82—235 (+19)

69. Mila Chaves, SDSU                                                   79-72-85—236 (+20)

Final results