Sept. 22, 2010
Complete Results in PDF Format 
PULLMAN, Wash. - One bad hole and a couple of unfortunate breaks victimized Gonzaga University's women's golf team in the final round of the WSU Cougar Cup hosted by Washington State University, but the Bulldogs still have plenty of reason to hold their heads high.
Sophomore Victoria Fallgren had birdie putt opportunities the final four holes but came up short in her bid for medalist honors, finishing third with a final-round 77 that gave her a 54-hole score of 222. Karinn Dickinson of the University of Washington and Kayla Mortellaro of the University of Idaho tied for medalist honors at 220. Fallgren held a 3-stroke lead heading into the final round, but Dickinson shot a 71 and Mortellaro a 70 over the 6,278-yard, par 72 Palouse Ridge Golf Club layout to come from third and fourth place, respectively.
The Bulldogs finished the 54 holes in third place at 920, two strokes behind the University of Washington and three behind WSU.
"Victoria was playing solid, but she three-putted the fifth and still held the lead at the turn, but she accidentally double-hit a chip shot on the 11th that cost her a shot," Gonzaga head coach Brad Rickel said. "It was a severe down slope chip and she had to be delicate. It was just one of those fluke things. She ground it out the rest of the way and had birdie putts on the last four holes but just couldn't get them to drop."
The 11th was also the downfall for the Bulldogs, who were second three shots behind the host Cougars and three shots ahead a trio of teams including the University of Washington heading into the final round.
"The team made the turn at 2-over and probably had the lead after 45 holes. But we played the 11th hole 5-over par and that was the difference. The 11th was a tough par 3 over bunkers to a narrow green and downwind which made it tough to choose a club," Rickel said. "It just got the best of us. We played the front side in 2-over and the back side in 13-over. We handled it (the pressure) well for nine holes, and for 53 holes I think we were the winner."
The Bulldogs shot a 301 to equal their best round of the young season which has seen the Bulldogs finish third in both tournaments, including the Circling Raven Collegiate Invitational the Zags hosted to open the season last week. Fallgren finished second in the opener.
The Bulldogs got solid rounds from Jessica Howe (73), Stephanie Corey (76) and Tai Jade 'TJ' Kliebphipat (77). Howe moved from a tie to 21st to 12th, Corey from a tie for 37th to a tie for 26th and Kliebphipat from a tie for 33rd to a tie for 26th with their strong final rounds.
While somewhat disappointed, Rickel was still positive.
"We were in the final group of the day and had a chance to knock off the Huskies and that was inconceivable a few years ago. We just didn't close the deal, but we were in a little bit of unfamiliar territory," Rickel said of the position his team was in entering the final round. "The team is hurting because we felt we had a chance to make a big step, but we still made a big step. It just would have been a big deal to beat the Huskies."
The Bulldogs won't have to wait long to get another shot at the Huskies as they compete in the UW Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational Oct. 4-6 at the Tacoma Country Club in Lakewood, Wash.
