All three recipients of Big West Golfer of the Month honors enjoyed top 10 finishes during tournament action in February.
Vivolo Impresses In Loaded Tournament Fields
UC Davis junior Luke Vivolo (Carmel, Calif./Carmel HS) garnered Big West Men’s Golfer of the Month accolades for February after a top 10 showing at the Amer Ari Invitational.
Vivolo shot 11-under 205 to finish tied for eighth in a field loaded with many of the top collegiate golfers. He was only one of two unranked golfers to finish in the top 10. Vivolo carded back-to-back rounds of 69 on Thursday and Friday before coming back Saturday with a 5-under 67. He posted six birdies in the final round and collected 18 in the tournament overall. The 18 birdies tied for fourth-most in the event. Vivolo was particularly impressive on the front nine of the 7,074-yard Waikoloa Kings’ Course as he shot 9 under over the three rounds.
Thirteen of the 16 Division I teams at the Amer Ari Invitational were ranked in Golfstat’s top 50 at the time of the event.
In the Prestige at PGA West, which UC Davis co-hosted with Stanford in La Quinta, Calif., Vivolo helped the Aggies finish ahead of No. 2-ranked Oregon.
He carded a 54-hole total of even par 216, with his best effort a final round 2-under 70. He tied for 30th among the 81-player field on the 7,204-yard Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course. In the final 18 holes, Vivolo had four birdies – two on each side – while two came on par-5 holes.
Ten of the 13 teams competing in the Prestige were ranked in Golfstat’s top 50 at the time of the event.
Others nominated: Justin De Los Santos (Cal Poly); Sam Gillis (UC Riverside); Scotty Yamashita (Hawai‘i)
Teare, Lee Share Women’s Golfer of the Month Honors
Long Beach State junior Kassidy Teare (Vista, Calif./Rancho Buena Vista HS) and UC Davis sophomore Paige Lee (Folsom, Calif./Granite Bay HS) were named Big West Women’s Co-Golfers of the Month for February as one golfer won individual medalist honors and the other helped her team to a tournament title.
Teare had two top 10 tournament finishes and placed ahead of all other Big West players in both events. She was the runner-up at the 49er-hosted The Gold Rush, shooting a 1-over 217 total over 54 holes at Old Ranch Country Club. That helped the 49ers win the team title, the program’s first this year and the first since 2013 when LBSU won The Gold Rush at Yorba Linda Country Club. Teare’s two rounds of par or better – 72 in the opening round and a season-low 70 during the last 18 holes – helped the 49ers finish 19 strokes ahead of second place Fresno State in the final standings. Teare finished just one shot behind individual medalist Lea Garner of BYU.
She tied for seventh among 71 golfers at the UC Irvine Invitational. Teare tied her season low score with a final round 70 and completed the tournament at even par 216. She also fired a 71 in the second round. It was Teare’s second consecutive top 10 finish, third this season and eighth in her career.
Lee won her first collegiate tournament as she outclassed a field of 63 golfers at the Stanford-hosted Peg Barnard Invitational. She shot 5-under 137 during her 36 holes of action, giving her a two-shot victory and helping the Aggies finish second to Oregon only. Lee recorded a career-low 66 in the opening round and shot par in the second round. Her round of 66 at Stanford Golf Course included five birdies and 13 pars.
The Aggies recorded their highest finish at the UC Irvine Invitational – seventh – as Lee led the way with a 4-over 220 total. Lee was the lone Aggie to post a round under par when she fired a 71 in the second round on the 5,903-yard Santa Ana Country Club course. She finished in a tie for 21st at the highly competitive tournament which featured 10 teams ranked in Golfstat’s top 50.
Lee’s performances have helped her to peg the highest ranking of any Big West player (T-55th) by Golfstat.
Others nominated: Sophie Bergland (Cal Poly); Martina Edberg (Cal State Fullerton); Savannah Vilaubi (UC Riverside)