Apparently, the Idaho women’s golf team didn’t want the Idaho men’s team to steal the golf spotlight this week. After the men’s team won the University of Wyoming Southern Invitational over the weekend, the women’s team earned its first victory of the season Wednesday at the New Mexico State Aggie Invitational in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
The Vandals shot a three-round, 14-under-par 850 to hold off in-state rival Boise State, which finished second by 10 strokes. Idaho shot rounds of 284, 287 and 279. The Vandals led the field after each round of play.
“After the first day, I knew that we were playing well and that we would be able to continue it,” Idaho coach Lisa Johnson said.
Next up for Idaho is the Pat Lesser Harbottle Invitational Monday and Tuesday in Tacoma, Washington. The Vandals conclude the fall season at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown Oct. 26.
Johnson said the win gives the team a lot of confidence.
“The seniors on this team have never won a team title, so this is the first tournament win for Leilanie (Kim) and Kaitlyn (Oster),” Johnson said. “So it’s great that they were finally able to achieve that and that everyone younger than them could experience it earlier in their career. Once you get a taste of it, then you want to do it more.”
Oster led the Vandals by tying for first with Grand Canyon’s Charlotte Jaengkit and Boise State’s Samantha Martin. The three players shot 10-under-par 206 scores. Oster shot 67 in the first round Monday and the third round Wednesday.
“For her to come into the final round and have the mindset that she was going to go really low, and then for her to tie her 67 from Monday was extremely impressive, especially under the pressure of trying to win individually and help the team win,” Johnson said.
Four of Idaho’s five players placed in the top 13.
“We had solid performances from everyone on the team,” Johnson said. “Kristin (Strankman) shot three rounds under par, which is by far her best ever college tournament. Leilanie played steady, finishing even. Amy (Hasenoehrl) had her best college tournament by a long shot. She finished one over with a 70 in her final round, which is her best ever college score.”
Strankman was the next best performer for the Vandals, after shooting a 4-under-par 212 to tie for fifth. Strankman shot under par each round, hitting a 70, 71 and 71.
Kim tied for 11th, after carding an even-par 216. Kim shot her best round (71) Wednesday.
Hasenoehrl tied for 13th, after shooting a 1-over-par 217. Hasenoehrl improved each day of the invitational, hitting a 75, 72 and 70.
“She’s only just begun to show what she’s capable of doing at the college level,” Johnson said of Hasenoehrl.
Host New Mexico State took third, after shooting a 4-over-par 868 and Washington State tied with BYU for sixth, after firing a 13-over-par 877.
A highlight of the tournament happened Tuesday, when Lamar’s Taylor Stockton sank a hole-in-one on the par-3 17th hole during the second round.
Garrett Cabeza can be reached at [email protected]