GOODYEAR, Ariz. – In what could possibly be its final event of the year, the Chico State women’s golf team improved its opening round score Tuesday at the Grand Canyon Invitational, but the combined 39-over par total of 327 was only good enough to net the Wildcats a 13th place overall finish in the 36-hole tourney, played at Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear, Arizona.

Chico State, which shot a 42-over par 330 in Monday’s first round of the Grand Canyon Invitational, finished with a score of 81-over 657 for the event. Erin Sears, who led the Wildcats with a 79 in the opening round, carded an 8-over par 80 to wrap up the tournament tied for 19th place on the individual leaderboard with a 15-over 159. Megan Chang shaved a stroke off her opening round performance, shooting a 9-over par 81 Tuesday to earn a share of 41st place with a total of 19-over 163.

Shelby Hooper enjoyed a three-stroke improvement Tuesday, firing a 9-over par 81 to finish at 21-over 165, good for a tie for 51st place in the tournament. Alexandra Bush followed her opening round 85 with a 16-over par 88 Tuesday for a two-day total of 29-over 173 and a share of 63rd place, while Wildcat teammate Katie Canadas delivered her best single round of the year Tuesday, carding a 13-over par 85 to finish in 71st place with a 32-over 176.

Tarleton State, the No. 5 ranked school in the country, ran away from the 17-team field, winning the Grand Canyon Invitational by a whopping 31 strokes with a two-day score of 16-over par 592. The top three on the Grand Canyon Invitational’s individual leaderboard were all Tarleton State golfers, with Carla Cooper shooting the event’s top score with a 7-under par 137.

FINAL RESULTS

With no more tournaments on its regular season schedule, Chico State will now await word later this month as to whether the Wildcats will qualify for NCAA Championship Super Regional play May 2-4 in Amarillo, Texas. If Chico State fails to secure one of the nine regional berths, the Wildcats 2009-10 season will come to a close.