Women's Golf | April 07, 2015

ROHNERT PARK, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay women's golf team finished the regular season with a flourish Tuesday, placing ahead of four nationally ranked teams to earn a seventh place finish at the Sonoma State Spring Invitational on Foxtail Golf Club's North Course. All six teams that finished ahead of the Otters were nationally ranked, including four of the nation's Top 20.

The teams mostly dodged the weather system that moved across the area Tuesday, though scores trended slightly up in the final round. For CSUMB, that meant following Monday's 312 with a 319 for a tournament total 631. The Otters finished the regular season with four consecutive tournament scores of 633 or less, its best run since the end of the 2011-12 campaign.

Individually, freshman Brianna Areia (Roseville/Woodcreek HS) couldn't hold her 18-hole lead, following her opening round 71 with an 80 Tuesday to earn a share of second place. She was one stroke behind medalist Maria Paola Fiorio of team champion Barry University, who finished at 6-over 150.

Nevertheless, Areia and Dixie State's Haley Dunn, who carded a 71 Tuesday, were the only players in to record a round in the red among the 190 rounds played this week.
In addition to Areia, sophomore Katrina Mendez (Salinas/Trinity Christian) shot 76 Tuesday—her second best round as an Otter—to climb into a tie for 14th overall at 156. Senior Arielle Swan-Smith (Sunnyvale/Fremont HS) carded her second consecutive 79 and tied for 22nd at 156.

No. 6 ranked Barry won the team title at 608, recording rounds of 306 and 302, the two best of the tournament by any team. No. 20 West Texas A&M (623), No. 15 Newman University (625), No. 11 Cal Baptist (628) and No. 32 Point Loma University (629) rounded out the Top 5.

With no conference championship to play for—the CCAA doesn't sponsor women's golf—the Otters will take a 3-week hiatus as they await the announcement of the 2015 NCAA Regional field. The regional will take place May 4-6 at Foxtail.