Goodyear, Ariz. – Zoe Newell finished eight-under to tie for the top spot before earning runner-up honors in a playoff. Her effort led Idaho to a runner-up team finish at one-under at the Bobcat Desert Classic at the Golf Club of Estrella in Goodyear, Arizona.
Newell was under par all three rounds, including a tournament low six-under 66 in round one of the tournament. She was one-under in both round two and round three to finish in a tie for the top spot with Montana State's Lauren Greeny, a Pullman native. Greeny earned the win in a one-hole playoff to pick up medalist honors.
"Congrats to
Zoe Newell on her Individual Runner-Up tournament finish,"
Stephanie Young said. "At the end of the 54-hole event she tied for first place - and just fell short of the outright title in a playoff. Her eight-under performance was very impressive and helped propel her team to success this week."
Emma Kang was also outstanding to earn four-place honors with six-under for the tournament. She tallied two-under 70s in all three rounds.
Emma Heyman closed the tournament with a five-under 67 in round three to climb into ninth place.
Laura Caamaño finished 17-over to finish in 36th-place overall.
Jenna Bruggeman was 18-over to finish in 39th.
Kaylin Johnson, playing as an individual, was 16-over to finish 35th.
As a team, the Vandals were one-under to finish five strokes behind first-place Weber State after a late rally by the Wildcats, but ahead of five other Big Sky teams in the field.
"Today was an awesome round of golf and we were in the mix for the team and individual titles until the very end," Head Coach
Stephanie Young said. "This was the type of opportunity we work for throughout the season."
The score is the first under-par team performance of the year for Idaho and the second top two finish of the season to go with the team win at the Tri-State Invitational in the fall. The strong performance comes on the doorstep of the Big Sky Conference Championship scheduled for next Monday through Wednesday at the Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park, Ariz.
"I am very proud of our team for their Runner Up finish," young said. "The was our best showing of the season and going into the Big Sky conference tournament, it gives us the right momentum we need to reach our goals."
