UC Irvine junior Travis Russell and UC Davis senior Demi Runas were named Big West Men's and Women's Golfer of the Month for October, respectively, after collecting top-five finishes among their performances.

Russell Posts Career-Best Finish at Bill Cullum Invitational

Junior Travis Russell (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor HS) turned in his best collegiate performance to earn Big West Men's Golfer of the Month accolades for October.

Russell finished in third place among 108 golfers at the Bill Cullum Invitational.  He shot a 54-hole total of 7-under 209 at the Wood Ranch CC that helped UC Irvine to a fifth place finish out of 20 teams.

He carded two rounds in the 60's to get to the 7-under par total.  He shot a 69 to begin the tournament and had a 68 in the final round.

His 72.89 scoring average this season through nine rounds leads the team.

Others nominated: Corey Gard (Cal State Fullerton); Tyler Raber (UC Davis)

Runas Earns Second Straight Golfer of the Month Award

Senior Demi Runas (Torrance, Calif./Torrance HS) continued her solid play to claim Big West Women's Golfer of the Month honors for October.

Runas was the top finisher for UC Davis at three different tournaments, placing in  top-10 twice individually.

On the heels of winning the Big West September Golfer of the Month award, Runas began October in stellar fashion with a tie for second place at the Windy City Collegiate Classic.  Helping the Aggies to a fourth place team showing, Runas shot 1-under 215 for the tournament, including a 2-under 70 in the final round.

She competed well at the Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational with a seventh place finish among a field of 83 golfers.  Runas shot 74-73-75 for a 6-over, 222 total that helped UCD finish in second place.

Runas tied for 21st place – among 90 golfers – at the prestigious Stanford Intercollegiate to finish out the month.  She carded a 2-under 69 in the final round to move up the leaderboard.  Runas shot 5-over 218 (73-76-69) as the Aggies took 10th place in the loaded field.

She averaged 72.8 strokes over her nine rounds with two of those rounds below par.

Others nominated: Seri Lee (Cal State Fullerton); Clariss Guce (Cal State Northridge); Michelle Park (UC Irvine); Amelia Ek (UC Riverside)