Idaho freshman Michelle Kim tied for eighth place with a 2-over-par 218 to end the New Mexico State Aggie Invitational Wednesday in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Idaho took third as a team, finishing with a 21-over-par 885.
The Brigham Young Cougars took the title, shooting a 5-under-par 859. New Mexico State’s Vivian Macias won the individual title with a 6-under-par 210.
The invitational started Monday and from that day to Tuesday, Idaho moved up from fourth place to third.
“We improved ball striking,” Idaho coach Lisa Johnson said. “We hit more greens and we started hitting closer to the hole.”
The Vandals struggled to start day three, but that all changed at the10th hole.
“We made several bogies and a triple bogey to start the day,” Johnson said. “As we made the turn, the players became more focused and were able to start hitting the flags, which really helped us down the stretch.”
Idaho senior Cassie McKinley tied for 19th with a 7-over-par 223 and junior Amy Hasenoehrl tied for 54th shooting a 17-over-par 233.
Idaho sophomore Kendall Gray entered the tournament as an individual and tied for 22nd with an 8-over-par 224.
The two Idaho freshmen — Kim and Sophie Hausmann — saw the NMSU course for the first time Monday morning.
“We weren’t able to play a practice round due to bad weather, so the first round was their warm-up round,” Johnson said.
Hausmann tied for 26th, finishing with a 9-over-par 225.
“A couple of mistakes were made that probably wouldn’t have happened had we played the course a little more,” Johnson said.
Idaho senior Kristin Strankman shot her best score in the final round, firing a 1-under-par 71. Strankman finished the tournament with a 3-over-par 219 to tie for 10th.
“She (Strankman) played really steady golf and today she was able to make a few more putts,” Johnson said. “She knew she could play well because she shot really well at this tournament last year and she was determined to shoot in the red.”
The Vandals will play at the Pat Lesser Harbottle Invitational Monday and Tuesday in Tacoma, Washington.
“It’s a very traditional course with tightly mowed fairways and we expect rain every day,” Johnson said. “The greens are supposed to be really fast, which we don’t really see here in the Palouse. We need to be mentally prepared.”
Johnson said the Vandals will hit the course this week and practice their short game and prepare for the wet greens Monday.
Mihaela Karst can be reached at [email protected]