BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Freshman
Leighton Shosted and senior
Bailey Henley led the way for the Utah Valley University women's golf team at the opening event of the spring season by both recording top 35 finishes at The Valley Invitational at Bakersfield Country Club on Monday and Tuesday in Bakersfield, California.
Shosted fired scores of 79, 78 and 78 on her way to tying for 30th with a 19-over-par 235, while Henley finished just one stroke back to tie for 35th with a 20-over 236 thanks to scores of 79, 79 and 78. Shosted also tied for the tournament lead in birdies by carding an impressive tally of 10 over 54-holes of action. The freshman racked up four birdies in each of the first two rounds on Monday, before finishing with two more during Tuesday's final round of action.
As a team, UVU recorded an 11th place finish at the 12-team event with a 90-over-par 954. The Wolverines posted scores of 320, 317 and 317 on their way to finishing 11th. San Francisco won the tournament with a 31-over-par 895 (298-293-304), while WAC foe Grand Canyon finished second with a 36-over 900, and Cal Poly finished third with a 43-over 907. By placing 11th, UVU finished just three strokes back of UC Davis for 10th (951) and also 41 ahead of host CSU Bakersfield for 12th (995).
Behind Shosted and Henley's strong play, reigning WAC champion
Victoria Estrada was next for UVU by tying for 43rd with a 23-over-par 239 (80-78-81).
Lauren Taylor followed by tying for 50th with a 244 (82-82-80), while
Caylyn Ponich rounded out UVU's competitors at the event by tying for 61st with a 250 (83-82-85).
Elizabeth Scholtes of Cal Poly claimed medalist honors at the tournament by carding a three-round 1-over-par 217 (72-72-73).
The Valley Invitational was co-hosted by CSU Bakersfield and Cal Poly.
The Wolverines will next return to Southern California next week, Feb. 14-15, to take part at the Mountain Match Play Classic at The Classic Club in Palm Desert. Following the match play event, UVU will then be off until March 7-8 when it will travel to McAllen, Texas for the UTRGV Invitational that will be contested at McAllen Country Club.
