University of Washington
Peg Barnard Invitational
Huskies Continue Hot Start, Win Second-Straight Tournament
February 15, 2016 | Women's Golf
Full Results
STANFORD, Calif. – The 12th-ranked University of Washington women's golf team earned its second-straight team title on Sunday as it finished the 36-hole Peg Bernard Invitational atop the leaderboard with a 3-over 571, besting host and third-ranked Stanford by three strokes. It is the third tournament win for the Dawgs this season and is the second time in as many seasons that UW has posted back-to-back team victories. Freshman Wengyung Keh also picked up her first tournament victory after carding a 4-under 138 to earn the individual crown.
“Today was unbelievable,” said head coach Mary Lou Mulflur. “I thought last week was pretty impressive but to go ahead and back it up with this win was exciting. They just played lights out today and it was a birdie fest with not too many unforced errors. This group plays as a team and that was evident today. They came out, didn't rest on their laurels following last week's win and were able to beat the defending national champion (No. 3 Stanford) on its home course.”
Washington started the day in fourth, just six strokes off the lead, but used a stellar front nine to easily vault into first place. The Dawgs posted nine birdies (and two bogeys) over the first three holes to move from 4-over 291 to 3-under. Washington had three players finish the front nine under par which held up over the back nine as they would go on to post 18 total birdies and no double bogeys. Additionally, all five Huskies improved upon their day one score and the Huskies have now won nine of their last 16 regular-season tournaments.
“This is about as good a run as I can remember,” said Mulflur. “To have a winning percentage like we have over 500 in this span is ridiculous. This is doing nothing but helping with our group's confidence but they also know to hit the reset button pretty fast after a tournament and I know they'll do that which is what makes them an impressive group.”
Keh earned her first tournament win with her career-best round of 5-under 66 coming on Sunday. The score ties for the third best in a single-round in program history and ties the best by a freshman (SooBin Kim, Oct. 8, 2011, also on the Stanford Golf Course). The New Zealand native, who started the day tied for 10th at 1-over par, opened the day with three-straight birdies. She capped off her round on the back nine with four more birdies, giving her the individual crown at 4-under 138.
“Wenyung just had a really, really impressive round today,” said Mulflur. “She started out great and it was exciting to watch her just go about her business and never get too up or too down. She's very matter of fact about things so it's good when you have a player who understands the situation, is able to keep her wits about her and stay steady in a tough field on a tough course.”
Luo also started the day off with a bang, carding three-straight birdies moving her to four-under par overall at the event. The senior entered the day tied for first at one-under and after two bogeys on holes five and 13, wrapped up her round with a birdie on hole 18 to move her two-day total to 3-under 139 to tie for second place.
Freshman Julianne Alvarez improved up on her day one round by two strokes by posting birdies on holes 1, 6, 9 and 12 to finish with a 1-under 70 for a two-day total of even-par 142 which was good for a tie for fourth place. It is her second top-five finish as a Husky.
Rounding out the UW group was freshman Sarah Rhee, who's 4-over-75 moved her score to 10-over152 which tied for 32nd place overall. Freshman Clementina Rodriguez's second-round score was six strokes better than day one as she finished with a 6-over-77 to finish tied for 53rd with an 18-over 160.
“I really have to give our seniors a ton of credit,” added Mulflur. “Their leadership has been phenomenal and they have taught this young group that this is what we do and this is what the expectation and helping them understand it. I can't stress how valuable the leadership is that they are providing.”
Up next for the Huskies is the Bruin/Wave Invitational on Feb. 29-March 1 in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
UW Results
1. Wenyung Keh, -4, 138 (72-66)
T2. Ying Luo, -3, 139 (70-69)
T4. Julianne Alvarez, E, 142 (72-70)
T32. Sarah Rhee, +10, 152 (77-75)
T53. Clementina Rodriguez, +18, 160 (83-77)
