By Andrew Hartley(@andrewhart1ey) – Spear Reporter
Photo courtesy of SJSU Athletics
Battling through moist conditions and over an hour long delay on Monday, the SJSU women’s golf team finished third at the Juli Inkster Invitational at Meadow Club.
Senior Kajsa Arwefjall not only led the Spartans shooting nine under par, but finished second overall. Arwefjall also tied for the birdie lead in the tournament with 12.
They carried a lot of momentum coming into the tournament after recently dethroning the defending champion, the Stanford Cardinal, at the Battle of the Bay.
While finishing top three in par 4s, SJSU shot 17 strokes short of the eventual champions of the tournament, the Stanford Cardinal. SJSU would also finish top three on par 3s and 4s as well.
Despite a strong finish, the bad early play Monday morning cost the Spartans a higher finish. Arwefjall shot her best score of 68, in round one of the tournament, but the other qualifiers all shot 75s. In perspective, par on the course was a 72.
And with three Spartans shooting three over par in a tournament where they lost by nine, the bad play of round one can be attributed to SJSU’s less than desired finish.
Notably, the top five finishes from the tournament all came from California.
While the teams were intended to play 36 holes Monday, Mother Nature had other plans leaving the Spartans to play only 30 holes.
But delay that ensued around 12 p.m. filled with rain and hail gave the Spartans new life.
After starting shooting six over, sophomore Lucia Lopez Ortega would come out of the break shooting three under par for the rest of the tournament.
And freshman standout Rebecca Gyllner would finish tied for 27 and would shoot one of the only eagles of the tournament.
But it would not be enough to overcome the early struggles they saw that muggy Fairfax afternoon.
They’ll exchange the damp and rainy California to the bright and sunny Scottsdale, AZ next week to participate in the Cactus Cup.