University of Arizona
Wildcat Invitational
Wildcats Win Home Tournament
03/15/2016 | Women's Golf
TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of Arizona women's golf team concluded play at the Wildcat Invitational at Sewailo Golf Club on Tuesday. The Wildcats captured the team tournament title, notching a 282 (-6) in the final round of play to put their composite score at 857 (-7). They surpassed Arizona State in the final round of play, leaving the Sun Devils in the dust by a margin of 11 strokes.
Sophomore Krystal Quihuis led her team and captured the individual crown, carding a 70 (-2) today. After rounds of 68 (-4) and 71 (-1) on Monday, she is the 1st place finisher overall and successfully led her team to a victory in the team competition. Like the team, Quihuis passed her Arizona State rival Linnea Strom in the final round, capturing the title on the very last hole of play.
“I knew I was four back from the leader and had a lot of work ahead of me,” said sophomore Krystal Quihuis. “As we started the round Linnea stuck her shot about a foot away for birdie on the first hole and I knew I had to bring my A-game. I stuck it for birdie on the second hole, and then we both continued to make fantastic shots throughout the round, but I was able to come out on top and win my first collegiate tournament. I have been waiting for this win for a long time and it feels like all my hard work with my parents, coaches, and teammates has paid off. I feel very blessed and honored to have won the Wildcat Invitational in our home state. Go Cats!”
This is the first win of Quihuis' career. Last year, she had five top-10 finishes but her closest to first place was a 4th place finish at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Invitational. This season, she has had three top-20 finishes but that was the extent of her success until now. She was the 2015 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and an All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention, WGCA Honorable Mention All-America, and a Golfweek Honorable Mention All-America in 2015.
Freshman Haley Moore notched a 71 (-1) today, and tied for 6th place after rounds of 72 (E) and 72 (-1) yesterday. Senior Lindsey Weaver earned a 70 (-2) and a 77 (+5) yesterday, leading her to a 70 (-2) today. She tied for 10th place. Freshman Gigi Stoll netted a 71 (-1) today, and combined with her 72 (E) and 74 (+2) from yesterday, she has also managed to tie for 10th place. Junior Wanasa Zhou finished with a 78 (+6) today, which after yesterday's 74 (+2) and 79 (+7) has given her a share of 54th place.
“Coach Radley and I are really proud of how our preparation has paid off,” said head women's golf coach Laura Ianello. “We have been playing Sewailo and other courses diligently. We knew we would have to play well to perform against the tough competition at this tournament, and we managed to do that today. We had a one shot deficit coming into today and managed to pull ahead of our rivals, Arizona State, for the win. For the ladies to play so confidently today was really satisfying. Krystal Quihuis managed to keep a level head especially while playing in the same group as the current leader. It was reassuring for us to see our hard-work pay off,” said head women's golf coach Laura Ianello.
In the individual competition, junior Jessica Vasilic played another strong round. After rounds of 75 (+3) and 67 (-5) yesterday, she earned a 72 (E) today to put her in a tie for 6th place. Freshman Danielle Lee carded a 73 (+1) today, and her 78 (+6) and 85 (+13) from yesterday combine to give her 72nd place. Sophomore Natalia Forero took a 76 (+4) today, and her rounds of 84 (+12) and 83 (+11) from yesterday put her in 78th place.
For more information and updates about the University of Arizona women's golf team, follow @UAWomensGolf on Twitter, uawomensgolf on Instagram and like us on Facebook atfacebook.com/ArizonaWomensGolf.
