HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE, Ark. – After carding the second-best score of the day with a 10-over-par 298, the Utah Valley University women's golf team moved up four spots to cap the fall portion of its 2019-20 season with a 13th-place finish at the Little Rock Women's Golf Classic on Tuesday at Diamante Country Club in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas.
 
The Wolverines carded a 298 during Tuesday's final round thanks to a 1-over-par 73 from Kate Williamson, a 2-over 74 from Kaylee Shimizu, a 3-over 75 from Victoria Estrada and a 4-over 76 from Bailey Henley. The sophomore Nathalie Irlbacher too had a strong final round by recording a 5-over 77. 
 
For the tournament, UVU placed 13th in the 17-team field with a 43-over-par 907 (301-308-298). By placing 13th, Utah Valley finished ahead of Stephen F. Austin (909), Houston Baptist (910), WAC foe Kansas City (911), and Lamar (913). 
 
The senior Shimizu led the Wolverines at the event by placing 14th on the player leaderboard with a 4-over-par 220. Shimizu carded scores of 71, 75 and 74 on her way to leading UVU with a top-15 finish at the tournament. She also led the team at the event with a total of eight birdies after adding three more during Tuesday's final round. By placing 14th, the reigning All-WAC performer has now recorded four top-25 finishes during the fall portion of the season.
 
The sophomore Irlbacher was next for UVU at the Little Rock Classic by tying for 39th with an 11-over-par 227. Irlbacher recorded rounds of 74, 76 and 77 on her way to posting the top-40 finish. 
 
The senior Williamson followed by tying for 55th with a 14-over 230 (78-79-73), while the junior Henley tied for 71st with a 17-over 233 (79-78-76) and the freshman Estrada tied for 75th with an 18-over 234 (78-81-75). All three Wolverines moved up the leaderboard on Tuesday, as Williamson moved up 24 spots after carding a final-round 73, while Estrada moved up nine spots after carding a 75, and Henley moved up eight spots after recording a 76.  
 
Western Kentucky won the event with a 12-over-par 876 (291-286-299), while Bradley finished second with an 881 (295-287-299) and WAC foe California Baptist took third with a an 886 (293-293-300). 
 
UTEP's Valeria Mendizabal took home medalist honors after winning the tournament with an 8-under-par 208 (71-65-72). 
 
The Little Rock Women's Golf Classic marks UVU's fifth and final tournament of the fall season.
 
The Wolverines will now take the winter months off before returning to action on Feb. 10-11 at UC Riverside's Battle at the Rock at Oak Quarry Golf Club in Riverside, California. The event will mark the first of six scheduled spring tournaments.