Long Beach State captured its first Big West Conference title since 2009 after firing a three-round total of 879 at the 2018 Big West Conference women’s golf championship at Strawberry Farms Golf Course (par 71, yardage 6,038).
Long Beach State shot a team total of 290, the low round of the day, on day three to extend its lead to 10 strokes over second place UC Davis (889), claiming the crown. UC Irvine, who improved on its team total every day, finished third after firing 897. Cal Poly finished fourth with a score of 902 and was followed by Hawai’i (903). The UC Riverside Highlanders shot their best round of the tournament today at 296 to finish with a three-round total of 915 to place sixth. Cal State Fullerton was one stroke back at 916 and CSUN rounded out the eight-team field with a score of 922.
Long Beach State’s Jennifer Yu took the lead on day one with a one-under 70 and never looked back as she went on to capture the individual medalist honor with a three-round total of even-par 213. This marked Long Beach State’s first individual title at the conference championship since Kay Hoey nabbed the title in 2007, and Yu’s first-ever individual medalist title. UC Irvine’s Janet Yeo shot one-under 70 in the final round to finish second with a total of 216. Teammate Avery French and Hawai’i ‘s Tyra Tonkam, who blasted a tournament-low, three-under 68 on the final day, tied for third at 220. Rounding out the top five were Long Beach State’s Haley Tygret and UC Davis’ Christine Danielsson and Samantha Hutchison, who each tallied a score of 222.
With the team title, the Beach advance to the NCAA Division I women’s regionals which are held at Stanford,Calif., Tallahassee, Fla., Austin, Tex., and Madison, Wisc., May 7-9. The 2018 NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championships will be hosted May 17-23 at Karsten Creek Golf Course in Stillwater, Okla.
Big West Golf Championship
Par 71 • Yardage 6,038
Team Results
1. Long Beach State - 285-304-290=879
2. UC Davis - 295-301-293=889
3. UC Irvine - 300-299-298=897
4. Cal Poly - 300-301-301=902
5. Hawai’i - 308-299-296=903
6. UC Riverside - 304-314-297=915
7. Cal State Fullerton - 299-315-302=916
8. CSUN - 306-315-301=922
The Big West All-Conference was also announced today at the tournament banquet. UC Davis’ Samantha Hutchison was named the 2018 Big West Women’s Golf Player of the Year and Cal Poly’s Caroline Cantlay earned Big West Women’s Golf Freshman of the Year. Big West Women’s Golf Co-Coach of the Year honor was awarded to Hawai’i’s Stephen Bidne and Long Beach State’s Joey Cerulle. The complete list of award recipients is listed below.
Big West Women’s Golf Player of the Year
Samantha Hutchison, UC Davis
Big West Women’s Golf Freshman of the Year
Caroline Cantlay, Cal Poly
Big West Women’s Golf Co-Coach of the Year
Stephen Bidne, Hawai’i
Joey Cerulle, Long Beach State
First Team All-Big West
Cara Barker, Long Beach State
Christine Danielsson, UC Davis
Avery French, UC Irvine
Samantha Hutchison, UC Davis
Haley Tygret, Long Beach State
Jennifer Yu, Long Beach State
Second Team All-Big West
Carolina Cantlay, Cal Poly
Desiree Gillaspy, Cal Poly
Kaci Masuda, Hawai’i
Holland Shourds, Long Beach State
Janet Yeo, UC Irvine
Honorable Mention All-Big West
Jakeishya Le, UC Riverside
Elsa Lundquist, Cal State Fullerton
Euna Pac, Long Beach State
Sahara Washington, Hawai’i