Gonzaga University
Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational Day 2
Third Round Charge Moves Zags up Leaderboard
9/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.--After turning in its best round of the tournament, the Gonzaga University women's golf team climbed three spots up the leaderboard at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational Tuesday in Albuquerque, N.M.
Freshman Bianca Pagdanganan led Gonzaga throughout the tournament despite shooting a 1-over-par 74 Tuesday. She finished her first collegiate tournament in a tie for 12th with 217 strokes, two strokes under par. Pagdanganan's finish is the best by a GU freshman in her first tournament since current senior Raychelle Santos took fifth at the Oregon State Invitational in September 2012.
Tuesday's charge was led by junior Ciera Min, who fired a 3-under-par 70 during the final round to climb into a tie for 32nd. The Hilo, Hawaii, native took 223 strokes over three rounds, four strokes above par.
Santos, meanwhile, finished in 68th with a final score of 233 (+14). She shot 79 (+6) during the final round. Fellow senior Michelle Condry ended up just one stroke off Santos' pace after shooting even par 73 Tuesday. She finished with a total of 234 strokes, 15 above par, and in a tie for 69th.
Jena Gao also wrapped up play in her final collegiate tournament, shooting 235 (+16) and tying for 75th over the two days. The Shanghai native shot a three-over-par 76 Tuesday, her best round of the tournament.
"We played very well today," said Gonzaga head coach Brad Rickel. "We had it under par most of the day, too. Ciera shot three under today and played a very determined round of golf. Michelle played great today and had a bad break on number 10 which cost her three shots, but she still shot even par. Bianca finished off a great first tournament with a good round of 74, but she had five three-putts. If not for some of those, it would have been another round under par."
After Tuesday's improvement, the Zags finished in a tie with UC Davis for 11th at the Dick McGuire Invitational, counting 898 strokes (+22) over three days. Their final round tally of 293 strokes (+1) beat their round one score by nine strokes and round two score by 10. Also, Gonzaga leapt in front of West Coast Conference rival Pepperdine, finishing three strokes ahead of the 13th-place Waves.
"I believe today is much more indicative of who we can be as a team," Rickel said. "To pass two teams and catch another was nice, and beating Pepperdine is a big deal for us, too."
Stanford won the team title after counting 856 strokes, 20 shots below par, and Northwestern's Sarah Cho won the individual title with a score of 211, eight strokes below par.
The Bulldogs now have three weeks off before their next event, the Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational. That tournament will take place Oct. 6-7 at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Wash. This will be the sixth consecutive season Gonzaga will have participated in the Washington-hosted event.
