NUEVO VALLARTA, Mexico- Idaho women's golf overcame windy conditions and a stacked field to finish seventh at the Hawkeye El Tigre Invitational Friday and Saturday, in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Sophie Hausmann finished tied for ninth at 5-over (221) to lead the Vandals to a 900 team score (36-over).

"It was our best tournament of the spring, by far," said head coach Lisa Johnson. "We were right in between two teams that are on the bubble for regionals and within just a few strokes of a lot of teams who will be selected."

Idaho, ranked No. 85 in the most recent GolfStat National Rankings, finished one stroke better than No. 56 New Mexico, one stroke behind No. 72 Indiana and two strokes back of No. 14 Washington. The Vandals were within eight strokes of three more top-50 teams.

It is Hausmann's ninth career top-10 finish, fourth of the season and second in as many tournaments. She posted a final-round 77 after back-to-back scores of 72 in the first two rounds.

Freshman Valeria Patino joined Hausmann near the top of the leaderboard, tying for 15th. Patino shot a team-best 73 in the final round to finish 8-over for the tournament (224). Sophomore Laura Gerner turned in her lowest score of the season at 11-over (227), to tie for 29th.

"Another top-10 finish for Sophie," Johnson said. "She is playing as consistent as ever right now. It was Laura's best collegiate performance as far as how well she played and how much she contributed to the team's success. It was a breakthrough tournament for her for sure."

The Big Sky Championships are less than five weeks away and Idaho has just one more tournament on the schedule between now and then. 

"We need to continue to work on our short game," Johnson said. "Outside of that, every aspect of everyone's game looks good. Now it's a matter of allowing ourselves to be comfortable and confident so we can play freely in competition."

The Vandals will be back in action March 26-28, at the Anuenue Spring Break Classic in Kapalua Hawaii. \ The Big Sky Championships are set for April 20-22, at Boulder Creek Golf Club near Las Vegas.

Team Results
7.    Idaho        900 (36-over; 299-296-305)

Individual Results
T-9.      Sophie Hausmann    221 (5-over; 72-72-77)
T-15.    Valeria Patino           224 (8-over; 74-77-73)
T-29.    Laura Gerner           227 (11-over; 76-74-77)
T-36.    Michelle Kim            229 (13-over; 77-74-78)
T-67.    Kendall Gray           240 (24-over; 79-76-85)