ST. GEORGE, Utah – Victoria Estrada carded a final-round 72 to lead the way for the Utah Valley University women's golf team by tying for 12th at the Pizza Hut Lady Thunderbird Invitational at Sunbrook Golf Club in St. George on Saturday afternoon.
 
With the even-par 72 on Saturday, the reigning WAC champion Estrada finished with a with a three-round total of 10-over-par 226 to tie for 12th. Estrada posted an impressive tally of six birdies during Saturday's final round en route to carding the even-par 72. For the tournament, she posted scores of 78, 76, and 72 and moved up 10 spots on the leaderboard on Saturday.
 
"It was a great day for Victoria. She played solidly and put herself in great positions to capitalize on her birdies. I'm proud of her for executing today and happy with the fight through the up and downs of the day," head UVU coach Juli Erekson said. "Looking forward to returning to Sedona next weekend!"
 
Freshman Leighton Shosted, who won her first collegiate event at the UTRGV Invitational earlier in the week, continued to play well for UVU by placing 16th on Saturday with an 11-over-par 227. Shosted finished with a final-round 75 and also previously carded scores of 77 and 75 at the tournament to earn the top-20 finish. She also finished second on the team in birdies at the event with 10, one fewer than Estrada who led the way with 11.
 
As a team, UVU finished eighth out of 16 teams with a 64-over-par 928 (312-310-306). UVU posted its best round of the event on Saturday with an 18-over 306. Arkansas State won the tournament with a 25-over 889, while Seattle U finished one shot back to take second (890), and Oral Roberts finished third (904). By taking eighth, the Wolverines finished ahead of Central Michigan (930), Eastern Washington (943), Northern Colorado (947), Dixie State (949), CSUN (955), Montana (959), Idaho State (967), and CSU Bakersfield (980). 
 
Playing the event as an individual, Makenzie McMillen had a nice tournament by tying for 44th with a 19-over 235 (79-76-80), while senior Bailey Henley tied for 53rd (78-81-79—238). Lauren Taylor tied for 68th as an individual (81-84-78—243), while Caylyn Ponich was next for UVU by tying for 79th (89-78-80—247) and Anna Lesa followed by tying for 83rd (79-82-87—248). Individual Macy Robertson Murphy also placed 99th (88-83-86—257). 
 
Host Southern Utah's Pluem Yongyuan moved up four spots on Saturday to claim medalist honors with a 1-over-par 217 (79-68-70). 
 
After a busy week, the Wolverines will next head to Sedona, Arizona next weekend to take part at Northern Arizona's Red Rocks Invitational March 19-20 at Oakcreek Country Club.