PHOENIX – Behind strong play from freshmen Anna Lesa and Victoria Estrada on the day, the Utah Valley University women's golf team posted a ninth place finish out of 15 teams at the GCU Invitational on Monday and Tuesday at Grand Canyon University Championship Golf Course in Phoenix.
 
Lesa led the Wolverines during Tuesday's final round by carding a collegiate-best 1-under-par 71, while Estrada was UVU's top finisher by tying for 17th with a 5-over-par 221. 
 
As a team, UVU placed ninth at the 15-team event with a three-round total of 50-over-par 914. After opening with a 297 (+9) and a 314 (+26) on Monday, the Wolverines then capped the event with a 15-over-par 303 on Tuesday to earn the ninth-place finish. By placing ninth, UVU finished ahead of North Dakota State (920), WAC foe UT Rio Grande Valley (922), in-state rival Southern Utah (925), Eastern Washington (942), former WAC foe CSU Bakersfield (949), and Montana State (950).
 
"We had a good outing at GCU," head UVU coach Dr. Sue Nyhus said. "We were leading the event after 16 holes of play on Monday. We had a few distractions in the second round of the 36-hole day, however, but we came back today with our birthday girl Anna (Lesa) shooting a 71 as well as solid play throughout the event from Victoria (Estrada)."
 
The second-year freshman Estrada was UVU's top finisher at the event after posting her 54-total of 221. Estrada opened with Utah Valley's best score of the tournament on Monday by tying her best collegiate score with a 2-under-par 70. She then posted a 4-over 76 on Monday afternoon followed by a 3-over 75 on Tuesday to cap the event in a tie for 17th place with the 5-over-par 221. Estrada finished the event with four birdies, 39 pars and an eagle on the par-5 10th hole on Monday morning. 
 
Lesa moved up 19 spots on the leaderboard during Tuesday's final round after posting her 1-under-par 71 on the day to finish in a tie for 32nd place with a three-round total of 11-over 227. After opening with scores of 77 and 79 on Monday, Lesa then responded by firing four birdies and 12 pars on Tuesday to finish the event with the final-round 71.
 
Junior Bailey Henley was next for UVU by tying for 39th with a 14-over-par 230. Henley too matched a career-best round on Monday by opening the event with an even-par 72. She then followed with scores of 78 and 80 to finish with the 230.
 
Freshmen Caylyn Ponich (78-81-77—236) and Macy Robertson (80-82-88—250) rounded out UVU's competitors at the tournament by placing 55th and 78th, respectively.  
 
"Bailey (Henley) is doing a great job of leading and teaching this group of younger student-athletes," Nyhus added. "Caylyn (Ponich) hung in there in tough (windy) conditions. Macy (Robertson) hit some great shots this week and we are excited about what she brings to our team. Our new assistant Juli Erekson has been a tremendous help and she has been a big part of our early success this year. We are also mindful of our administrator and supporter Cathy (Nixon) and send her best wishes."
 
The host Grand Canyon Lopes won the event on their home course with a 2-over-par 866 (292-285-289), while fellow WAC foes California Baptist (878) and Seattle U (889) finished took second and third, respectively. Northern Arizona placed fourth (892), UC Riverside fifth (905), Idaho sixth (908), South Dakota seventh (909), and UTEP eighth (911). 
 
SUU's Pluem Yongyuan took home individual medalist honors by winning the field with a 5-under-par 211 (69-73-69). 
 
UVU held the lead early in the event on Monday and found itself in second place in the team standings after Monday's opening round. A second-round 314 then dropped the Wolverines six spots to a tie for eighth place after two rounds of play, and Utah Valley then finished in ninth after carding the final-round 303 on Tuesday.
 
The Wolverines will next head to St. George, Utah for a pair of events on March 11-12 and March 15-16. UVU will first take part at SUU's Pizza Hut Lady Thunderbird Invitational at Sunbrook Golf Club, before heading to nearby Hurricane, Utah for the BYU Spring Classic at Sand Hollow Resort. 

Recap of the final round. Women's Golf finished 9th out of 15 teams at the GCU Invitational. Victoria Estrada led the way for the Wolverines finishing T17 at (+5). #GoUVU #UVU #UVUGolf #WACGolf pic.twitter.com/e79DLw6PIM

— UVU Women's Golf (@uvuwgolf) March 2, 2021