The radiant Sonoma County sun and some golf, the college dream some would say. The Sonoma State women’s golf team finished up their regular season on Tuesday, April 9th, as they hosted the annual SSU Spring Invite at the prestigious Foxtail Golf Club. Competing in the lush greenery and challenging course, the Seawolves showcased their sportsmanship and resilience, bouncing back with the second-lowest round of the tournament and securing a commendable 3rd place finish.
After a formidable performance on day one, landing in 4th place just six strokes adrift from the top, Head Coach Val Verhunce rallied his team for a final round push. With determination and skill, the Seawolves surged up the leaderboard, momentarily seizing the top spot with a flurry of early birdies from four different players.
Talia Gutman emerged as a statistical leader, mastering the par 4 scoring with a mere 1-over, while Lauren Garcia dominated the par 3 scoring, finishing even par. Courtney Cervellin showcased her prowess in par 5 scoring, finishing 2-under. Despite a valiant effort, the team faced stiff competition, ultimately settling for a well-deserved 3rd place finish behind Cal State LA and Simon Fraser, marking their second 3rd place finish of the spring season.
Individually, Brenna Ozel shone brightly, clinching a tie for 3rd place with a final round of 9-over-par, her best individual finish of the season.
“I always get first hole nerves and it’s hard for me to control,” Ozel said. “But I hung in there and ended up shooting a good number the first day.” Ozel is a senior who said she is “trying to take everything in before I transfer next year.”
Not far behind, teammates Gutman and Amelia Gladys secured ties for 5th place, with Gladys delivering a stellar performance, climbing ten spots on the leaderboard with a solid 74 (+2) in the final round. Avery Foster rounded out the top-20 for SSU with a respectable 15-over-par finish.
Foster said, “The first day I started out struggling but I knew my team would have my back.” Proving good loyalty by her teammates. She ended by saying , “The second day I had my confidence up and was able to play better. I’m very proud of Brenna and Amelia for playing well and leading the team.”
Looking ahead, the Seawolves are set to tackle the Santa Rosa Country Club as they prepare for the upcoming CCAA Championship Tournament commencing on Monday, April 22nd. Fans can stay updated with live scoring, results, and more on sonomaseawolves.com and follow the team’s journey on social media platforms.
