Strong Showing at Sahalee

Tuesday, October 6

Sahalee CC; Redmond, WA

All Day

University of San Francisco

Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational

Emelie Lundstrom's final round 71 helped USF to a fourth place finish at the Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational. She was the only player with two sub-par rounds all week.

10/7/2015 3:30:00 PM | Women's Golf

REDMOND, Wash. – Fourth place never felt so good.

Paced by the strong play of Vanessa Ha, Emelie Lundstrom and Clare Sorensen, USF shot a final round score of 300 in the steady rain at Sahalee Country Club to secure a fourth place finish at the Edean Ihlanfelt Invitational.

The Dons final round team score was the lowest of the day among the 13 teams in the field and vaulted a rapidly improving USF squad from eighth to fourth place on the leaderboard.

USF's final 54-hole score of 904 (+40) left the Dons 12 strokes behind first place San Diego State (892), which shot a final round 301 to overtake California (897) for the team title. Washington finished third seven strokes back at 899. The Dons finished two strokes ahead of WCC power Pepperdine and were six shots clear of seventh place Gonzaga.

"Given the tough conditions and the strong field, I'm pleased with our showing here this week," said head coach Sarah Glynn. "Everyone stayed positive all day and that goes along way when the conditions take a turn for the worst."

Ha shot a final round 73 to finish second, one shot behind medalist Bianca Pagdanganan of Gonzaga while Lundstrom's magnificent closing round of 71 shot her 10 spots up the ladder into third place, just two strokes off the lead.

After posting a pair of 82s on Tuesday, senior Clare Sorensen's final round 75 was instrumental in the team's drive on the final day.

Ha's second place finish on a difficult golf course against a strong field might be just as impressive as her win a week ago at the Rose City Intercollegiate. After playing the front side two over par, Ha was one under on her final nine holes, which included a birdie on the par-3 ninth, her final hole of the day. Her final 54-hole score of 218 left her 2-over par for the tournament.

"Vanessa's confidence is growing with each and every tournament. She knows she can win every time she tees it up."

Lundstrom was the only player in the field to turn in two subpar rounds in the tournament, as her second consecutive 71 lifted the Swede into solo third at 219 (+3). Her round was that much more impressive given the wet conditions that greeted the player on their final day in the Pacific Northwest. Lundstrom found herself 2-over on her round following a double bogey on her fifth hole but rebounded to make three backside birdies en route to a 71.

"Emelie has turned in a lot of great rounds for us over the years and given the conditions, her final round today might be right there near the top of the list."

Sorensen also played very steady in the unfavorable conditions and finished tied for 55th on the strength of a final round 75.

Freshman Mabel Wong tied for 49th at 237 (+21) after shooting an 83 on Wednesday while junior Ayaka Suzuki's final round 81 left her tied for 51st place at 238 (+22).

The Dons will travel directly from Seattle to Denver, where they will open play in the Ron Moore Intercollegiate on Friday at Highlands Ranch Golf Club in Littleton, Colo.