SANTA ROSA—The members of the Chico State women's golf team didn't let Monday's opening round of the Sonoma State Fall Invitational get them down. Instead, the Wildcats dug deep and came back Tuesday to play some of the most consistent golf of the still-young season, carding a collective 36-over par 324—the second-best team round of the season and 15 strokes better than Monday's first round effort—to finish the tournament in eighth place with a two-day score of 87-over 663.
Taylor Stewart provided some genuine excitement during Tuesday's morning action. Starting the final round tied for third place and just three strokes off the lead, Taylor played 1-under par through the first eight holes to briefly earn a share of the top spot. Stewart was slowed by a double bogey and had to grind her way through the last nine holes, but she ended with a birdie to finish the day at 5-over 77. Her 36-hole total of 8-over 152 was good for a share of fourth place on the individual leader board.
Trinity Hernandez followed her opening round 82 with an 81 on Tuesday, wrapping up the Sonoma State Fall Invitational at 19-over par 163 and a share of 26th place overall.
Kelly More shot an 87 on the final 18 to finish the tournament in 42nd place with a two-round score of 172.
Alison Oliveira shaved a whopping 16 strokes off her opening round score, draining a birdie on the way to an 81 Tuesday—the best round of her fledgling Chico State career. Oliveira finished in 45th place with a 36-hole total of 178.
Not to be outdone, Brooke Pelletier trimmed 17 strokes off Monday's opening round score, coming through with an 85—her personal best score as a Wildcat. Pelletier ended Tuesday's action in 46th place with a total score of 187.
First round co-leader Point Loma took the Sonoma State Fall Invitational's team title with a 36-hole score of 35-over par 611, six strokes better than second place Cal State LA (+41 617). Dominican (48-over 624), Western New Mexico (628), and Sonoma State (634) finished out the top five.
Morgan Sjoerdsma of Cal State LA earned medalist honors, topping the 46-player field with a two-round score of 5-over par 149.
The Wildcats travel to the Pacific Northwest next week, teeing it up Monday and Tuesday as part of the Western Washington Invitational at Bellingham Golf and Country Club in Bellingham, Washington.
