Valley Invitational
Cal Poly Claims Ninth Win in Aagaard's Six Seasons as Head Coach
2/9/2021 3:46:00 PM | Women's Golf
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Consistency was the key for the Cal Poly women's golf team Tuesday.
All five Mustangs scored 75 or 76 and that was enough to post a six-stroke victory over Boise State in the Valley Invitational, which concluded a 54-hole run Tuesday at the Bakersfield Country Club.
The victory was the ninth for Mustang head coach Sofie Aagaard, beginning her sixth season at Cal Poly.
"It is always great to start a season with a win," said Aagaard. "This one is extra special as we haven't competed together for so long."
Cal Poly followed Monday's rounds of 303 and 305 with a 300 Tuesday for a 44-over-par 908 total. Boise State carded a four-person 299 total and jumped from fourth place into the runner-up spot with its 914 aggregate while Cal State Fullerton slipped to third at 915 with a 303 total in the final round.
"In both the first and third rounds, we got off to good starts, stumbled a bit in the middle and finished strong," said Aagaard. "The course has challenging green areas and undulated greens, putting up a great test for us with putting. We have work to do to say the least on and around the greens moving forward this spring season."
Freshman Nicole Neale (pictured at right) opened her collegiate career with a strong second-place finish, following her pair of 74s Monday with a final-round 76 and an eight-over-par 224 total.
Brittany Shin of Cal State Fullerton was the winner with a final-round 74 for a 219 total. Emma Young of Boise State and Sofia Chabon of California Baptist shared third place at 226.
"In her first ever college event, Nicole hit it well off the tee, kept the ball in play and made a good amount of birdies," said Aagaard. Neale's eight birdies were the second most in the field of 62 golfers and the Tesoro High School graduate also was fourth in par-4 scoring at five over par.
Cal Poly's four scoring golfers all finished in the top 15, with Vanessa Wang fifth, Elizabeth Scholtes eighth and Caroline Cantlay 14th. All shot 75s Tuesday, as did Madi Daniels, who finished 25th.
Competing as an individual, Carissa Wu finished in 33rd place with a final-round 79 for a 238 total.
Scholtes was tied for first place in par-3 scoring at one over par and tied for third in par-5 scoring at even par while Cantlay was second in par-4 scoring at four over par. Cantlay recorded seven birdies over 54 holes, tied for No. 4, while Wang was second with her 37 pars.
"Bakersfield CC was a great host course for this first Valley Invitational that we co-hosted with CSU Bakersfield," said Aagaard. "Coach Thomason did the heavy lifting in running the tournament and it was smooth from start to finish."
The Mustangs won two events in September 2019 before the 2019-20 season was cut short in March 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cal Poly competes in The Gold Rush hosted by Long Beach State on Feb. 22-23 at the Old Ranch Golf Club in Seal Beach, Calif.
Players Mentioned
