'AIEA, O'ahu – The Texas State women's golf team trailed only three teams ranked in the top 25 of the Division I golf rankings to finish fourth at the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational held Tuesday and Wednesday at Pearl at Kalauao on the island of O'ahu.
No. 2 USC won the event at -28, while No. 12 North Carolina and No. 23 Arizona State tied at -5, only two strokes ahead of TXST's (285-278-286--849) -3. The Bobcats' event was highlighted by their second-round 278, just two strokes off a season-best shot twice at the Texas State Invitational in February.
TXST finished 4-over on par 4s, tied for the best score in the field, while its 52 birdies were second only to USC's 60.
Freshman
Grace Quintanilla (68-70-73--211) and senior
Yvonne Chamness (70-71-70--211) tied for sixth (-2) to lead the Bobcats, doing so for the fifth and fourth times this season, respectively. Chamness has a team-best five top 10 finishes this season, while Quintanilla adds four, including three straight. Quintanilla's tournament featured her fifth round in the 60s this season, the lowest total on par 3s at -3 and a team-best 12 birdies, while Chamness went even or under par all three rounds, bringing her team leading total to 17 rounds even or better this season.
Fia Lindblom (75-66-74--215) signed for her career low round of 66 after going 5-under on the second 18. It was the second lowest round of the tournament among the 78-player field. She finished tied for 16th at +2 across the 54-hole event.
Mana Hersperger (75-71-71--217) and
Briana LeMaire (72-77-72--221) rounded out the TXST lineup finishing tied for 19th and tied for 27th, respectively. Hersperger carded back-to-back 71s in rounds two and three and climbed five spots on the final day, while LeMaire's low rounds were +1 in rounds one and three.
Ella Salama competed as an individual and finished tied for 72nd.
The Bobcats stay in state for the final tournament of the regular season when they take on the field at the "Mo" Morial April 6-8 in College Station, Texas. The Sun Belt Conference Championship is set for April 20-23 in Point Clear, Alabama.
