Week of February 18, 2013
The Long Beach State women’s golf team captured the 2013 Gold Rush team title on last week at the Yorba Linda Country Club.
It was the 49ers’ first tournament title this year and the first since winning the Rose City Collegiate in Aurora, Ore., last season.
“We started the spring season off the way we needed to,” 49er Coach Joey Cerulle said. “We really came together the last three weeks in preparation for the season. We were very happy to represent Long Beach State and win the title at our own event.”
The 49ers recorded a final-round score of 306 to hold off second-place Gonzaga by 10 shots as the Bulldogs closed the tourney with a 310. The 49ers finished the 54-hole tournament at 53-over 917.
UC Irvine placed third at 74-over while San Diego State (+77) finished in fourth, and Portland State (+87) took fifth.
Freshman Shawnee Martinez led the way for the 49ers, finishing in second individually at 9-over 225. Martinez had a one-shot lead over Gonzaga’s Raychelle Santos going into the final hole. She came close to winning the individual title on the par-5, 479-yard 18th hole with a 40-foot putt that missed the hole. Martinez then had to make a putt from eight feet to force a playoff, but ended up double-bogeying the hole. She finished the round with a 78 that was highlighted by two birdies.
Senior Simone Hoey and sophomore Chaewon Park tied for sixth overall as they both finished 15-over at 231. Hoey carded her best round of the tournament on Tuesday with a 72 to jump in the standings from 18th place, and Park scored a 78 to record her first top-10 finish.
Freshman Kassidy Teare shot a 78, moving up two positions to tie for 10th at 19-over. It was Teare’s first career top-10 finish.
“I’m really proud of Shawnee on how she performed during the tournament as she is steadily becoming a leader on the team,” the coach noted. “We look to more success this spring season.”
Junior Rochelle Chan closed out the tournament with an 80 to tie for 14th at 20-over.
Junior Ashley Greer, sophomore Bow-Kay Salotti and freshman Janelle Sua played as individuals for LBSU. Sua shot an 81 to tie for 31st at 26-over, while Greer recorded her best round of the tournament with an 80 to tie for 34th at 27-over. Salotti carded an 83 to tie for 49th at 32-over.
The 49er women’s golf team returns to action next week, taking part in the Anteater Invitational hosted by UC Irvine Feb. 25 and 26 at the Santa Ana Country Club.
