March 23, 2016
Final PDF Results | Photo Gallery
RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif. -- The 17th-ranked San Diego State women's golf team closed out the final round of its prestigious home tournament on a winning note Wednesday, defeating No. 12 Arizona State, 3.5-1.5, to capture fifth place in the championship bracket of match play at the SDSU March Mayhem event, held at the par-72, 6,211-yard Farms Golf Club.
The Aztecs posted three wins in the best-of-five series against the Sun Devils and halved another individual match, finishing with a 3-1 record in their fourth annual competition, which featured 10 schools ranked among the Golfstat top 40.
Sirene Blair (South Jordan, Utah) clinched the team victory for the Scarlet and Black after emerging with a 3&2 triumph over Roberta Liti. Despite draining just one birdie on the day, the Aztec junior played steady golf throughout the day, posting 13 pars against one bogey and one double to defeat her ASU counterpart. Blair found herself trailing after the third hole, but vaulted in front for good when Liti went bogey-triple on the fourth and fifth greens. The two-time all-Mountain West selection went to 3-up on the strength of a birdie at the par-3 14th before closing with two pars.
Haleigh Krause (Eugene, Ore.) also came up huge for SDSU on Wednesday with a 2&1 decision over Sophia Zeeb. The Aztec sophomore grabbed a two-hole advantage just before the turn, sinking birdies at No. 7 and No. 9, while her Sun Devil adversary went par-bogey on the seventh and eighth greens. Krause had to endure some anxious moments on the back nine after posting four bogeys, but Zeeb was unable to capitalize, recording two bogeys of her own on the 14th and 15th to go with a double at No. 12. With holes running out, Krause ultimate prevailed after both golfers made par at No. 17.
Conversely, Emma Henrikson (Malmö, Sweden) completed SDSU's biggest individual victory of the day with a 4&3 triumph over Madison Kerley. The Aztec senior was down one after two holes, but catapulted into the lead for good following consecutive birdies at No. 3 and 4. Henrikson ultimately increased her advantage to four on the back nine after going par-birdie on the 13th and 14th greens, while Kerley went bogey-par during that stretch. SDSU's All-America candidate then secured the match on No. 15 after both players made par.
Elsewhere, the Aztecs netted another half-point when Mila Chaves' (Asuncion, Paraguay) encounter with ASU's Monica Vaughn ended all square. The SDSU sophomore found herself three holes down after No. 7, but rallied to take the lead after posting four pars over her next six holes to go with birdies on the ninth and 13th greens. The score remained unchanged until the 18th when Vaughn made birdie, while Chaves settled for par.
The Sun Devils notched their only win of the day when Linnea Strom dispatched Georgia Lacey by a 6&4 count. Strom quickly seized control of the match and turned on the afterburners, posting 11 pars and three birdies in 14 holes, while Lacey was unable to overcome the sting of four bogeys and one concession.
USC defeated Arizona, 4-1, in the championship match, while UCLA downed Stanford by an identical margin to finish third in the tournament.
San Diego State will have one final tune-up before the Mountain West Championship, when it competes in the Silverado Showdown, April 3-5, at Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa, Calif.
SDSU March Mayhem
March 23, 2016
The Farms Golf Club
Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
No. 17 SAN DIEGO STATE 3.5, No. 12 ARIZONA STATE 1.5
Individual Results
1. Emma Henrikson (SDSU) def. Madison Kerley (ASU), 4&3
2. Sirene Blair (SDSU) def. Roberta Liti (ASU), 3&2
3. Haleigh Krause (SDSU) def. Sophia Zeeb (ASU), 2&1
4. Mila Chaves (SDSU) vs. Monica Vaughn (ASU), AS
5. Linnea Strom (ASU) def. Georgia Lacey (SDSU), 6&4