PALM DESERT, Calif. - Seattle U women's golf started off the spring campaign with a team victory, defeating Cal State Bakersfield, Cal State Fullerton and Boise State in the match play tournament. The two-day event took place at the Classic Club on the 6,081 yards course with a par of 72.
"What an amazing week," said Head Coach Marc Chandonnet. "I am proud of our team and the battles they had to win in order to get the job done. It's always difficult going into an event as the top seed with the expectation that you are supposed to win. They handled it with class and made Seattle U proud."
Instead of the usual stroke play format, the Mountain Classic Match Play matched teams up head-to-head. Seattle U entered the tournament as the number one seed, facing off against CSUB in the first round. The Redhawks went on to win this matchup, 4-1-0, as senior Samantha Bruce (7&6), junior Azumi Arai (5&3) and freshman Rivekka Jumagulova (4&2) and Shayna Lu (9&7) all bested their opponents.
In the semifinals, SU took on CSF in a matchup that was decided by one point. Bruce and Jumagulova would tie against Elina Saksa and Haruka Koda, respectively, while Arai would fall to Lisa Djerf. However, graduate student Keisha Lugito (3&2) and Lu (5&4) would lead the Redhawks to victory, defeating Linley Ooi and Kayle Hunn to send them to the finals.
Seattle U matched up with Boise State in the finals, winning the tournament, 3-2-0, despite brutal winds on the final day. Lu (7&6) was the first to finish, defeating Nicole Suppelsa and Arai (5&3) joined her shortly after as she defeated Emma Yang giving the Redhawks a 2-0 lead. Lugito would fall to Elli Gordon with two holes remaining, leaving Bruce and Jumagulova as the deciding matches. Bruce would drop her match against Lexi Perry by two on the 18th hole but Jumagulova would seal the team victory after tying with Franca Polla on the final hole to keep a one hole lead.
This is Seattle U's second team victory of the season as they swept the awards at the Pat Lesser Harbottle Invitational back in October.
The Redhawks will continue the spring season on Feb. 28-Mar. 1, heading to Phoenix, Arizona, for the GCU Lopes Invitational at the GCU Golf Course. Last year, the Redhawks finished in third place as Lugito was the top finisher tied for eighth overall.
Stay connected with Seattle U women's golf and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google Play.
"What an amazing week," said Head Coach Marc Chandonnet. "I am proud of our team and the battles they had to win in order to get the job done. It's always difficult going into an event as the top seed with the expectation that you are supposed to win. They handled it with class and made Seattle U proud."
Instead of the usual stroke play format, the Mountain Classic Match Play matched teams up head-to-head. Seattle U entered the tournament as the number one seed, facing off against CSUB in the first round. The Redhawks went on to win this matchup, 4-1-0, as senior Samantha Bruce (7&6), junior Azumi Arai (5&3) and freshman Rivekka Jumagulova (4&2) and Shayna Lu (9&7) all bested their opponents.
In the semifinals, SU took on CSF in a matchup that was decided by one point. Bruce and Jumagulova would tie against Elina Saksa and Haruka Koda, respectively, while Arai would fall to Lisa Djerf. However, graduate student Keisha Lugito (3&2) and Lu (5&4) would lead the Redhawks to victory, defeating Linley Ooi and Kayle Hunn to send them to the finals.
Seattle U matched up with Boise State in the finals, winning the tournament, 3-2-0, despite brutal winds on the final day. Lu (7&6) was the first to finish, defeating Nicole Suppelsa and Arai (5&3) joined her shortly after as she defeated Emma Yang giving the Redhawks a 2-0 lead. Lugito would fall to Elli Gordon with two holes remaining, leaving Bruce and Jumagulova as the deciding matches. Bruce would drop her match against Lexi Perry by two on the 18th hole but Jumagulova would seal the team victory after tying with Franca Polla on the final hole to keep a one hole lead.
This is Seattle U's second team victory of the season as they swept the awards at the Pat Lesser Harbottle Invitational back in October.
The Redhawks will continue the spring season on Feb. 28-Mar. 1, heading to Phoenix, Arizona, for the GCU Lopes Invitational at the GCU Golf Course. Last year, the Redhawks finished in third place as Lugito was the top finisher tied for eighth overall.
Stay connected with Seattle U women's golf and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google Play.