Pepperdine wins UNLV Spring Inv.

BOULDER CITY, Nev. – The Pepperdine women’s golf team continued its mastery of the Boulder Creek Golf Club, shooting 20-under over three rounds to win the UNLV Spring Invitational by 14 strokes on Wednesday. Additionally, sophomore Danielle Kang rallied to tie for the tournament lead after 54 holes, but lost in a sudden-death playoff.

Pepperdine

Kang

The 20-under is the second-best score in program history, trailing only the NCAA-record 41-under that the Waves recorded at this same course at the 2008 Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown.

The Waves shot below par as a team during all three rounds at the par-72 course, finishing with a total of 844 (285-278-281). They began the final round with a two-stroke lead on BYU but eventually put a great deal of distance between them and their future West Coast Conference opponent.

Thanks to a final round 6-under 66, Kang nearly rallied for her second collegiate victory. Her 10-under 206 (71-69-66) ranks as the third-best 54-hole score in program history. The 6-under third round ties the sixth-best 18-hole score in school history. Both marks are collegiate bests for Kang.

She began the day four strokes back of BYU’s Kelsey Vines, but five birdies against one bogey on the front nine and then an eagle on the par-5 13th hole put the two into a tie. Kang finished her round with five consecutive pars. Vines had a birdie on the 16th hole to go back in front but bogeyed the 17th hole to even things up again.

In the sudden-death playoff, the two started on the par-5 16th hole. Both players had a putt for an eagle and Vines sank hers to claim the win.

Senior Taylore Karle had her best result of the season, a fourth-place finish after a 5-under 211 (72-69-70). She posted five birdies during her final round.

Junior Kaitlin Drolson also had a season-best finish, tying for seventh place with a 2-under 214 (71-69-74). She had six birdies today (five on the back nine) and tied for the tournament high with 14 overall.

In her third collegiate tournament, freshman Grace Na collected her first top-10 result as she tied for 10th with an even-par 216 (72-73-71). She’s been in the top 20 in each of her three events. Na had four birdies on Wednesday.

Freshman Liv Cheng (Auckland, New Zealand) ended up in a tie for 12th place with a 1-over 217 (71-71-75).

Playing as individuals, freshman Danielle Gillaspy (Santa Maria, Calif./St. Joseph’s HS) tied for 27th place at 223 (77-74-72) and senior Martine de Gannes (Diego Martin, Trinidad) tied for 42nd place at 228 (73-78-77).