Section
Pepperdine Links
Online Publications
Down on day one, don’t worry.
Still behind on day two … not a problem.
Day three is when it all comes together, at least for the top-ranked Pepperdine women’s golf team.
It claimed its fourth consecutive tournament win Wednesday at the Pioneer Electric Bruin Classic in Santa Clarita.
The Waves trailed the first two days on the 54-hole course, but came from behind to shoot a tournament-low 289 the final day of play and overtake second-round leader University of Southern California.
“It was a real test of golf,” senior All-American Katherine Hull said. “We knew we had to step it up. We fought until the last hole and it paid off. This team is not quitters. We gut it out.”
The Trojans wrapped up play with a score of 900 and the Waves finished with a total score of 898.
“We don’t like losing to USC,” Hull said. “That made the victory twice as sweet … we came from behind and we beat them. It was a good feeling.”
Hull won individual medallist honors for the fourth time this season, tying with USC’s Mikaela Parmalid.
She shot a three-over par total of 219 for the tournament and a one-under par 71 the final day. Hull is ranked as the No. 1 player the country.
“As happy as I am with the win, this tournament made me realize how much harder I have to work,” Hull said. “It was a confidence boost to come from behind though.”
Senior All-American Lindsey Wright and sophomore Rachel Kyono finished in a tie for seventh, both with a nine-over par 225. Wright’s 69 tied for the low-round score of the tournament.
Kyono’s finish was her highest of the season.
Sophomore Courtney Clark finished tied for 39th with 236 points and rookie Carolina Llano tied for 57th with 240 points.
Despite the win, team members agree that this was not their highest level of golf.
“I think we were all a little frustrated with our play,” Clark said. “We wanted to go out there and rip up the golf course every day. We still got it done and won, but not the way we wanted to.
“It was really important to us to fight for the win and win because we earned it by playing well, not because other teams didn’t play good golf,” she continued.
The difficult course was another source of frustration for the team.
“As a collective we didn’t like the greens,” Clark said. “They were firm and slow. This was a really hard golf course.”
As well as leading their Pepperdine team, Aussie’s Hull and Wright are both competing in their first Ladies Professional Golf Association events in the next two weeks.
Hull is playing on the televised LPGA Office Depot Tournament in Tarzana April 4-6.
Wright kicks off her professional career today at the Craft Nabisco Tournament in Palm Springs. Both competitions will include some of the nation’s top professionals.
The next challenge for the Waves is the West Coast Conference Championships at Riverbend Golf Club in Fresno April 14.
“It should be a breeze,” Clark said. “We should win with our eyes shut if we play half-way decent. We are looking beyond that to regionals and nationals.”
Submitted March 27, 2003
MALIBU, CA
