For the first time in the history of the Long Beach State women’s golf program, the 49ers can call themselves Big West Conference champions.
The Beach shot 65-over-par 929 to edge UC Davis and UC Irvine by a stroke Tuesday at the San Luis Obispo Country Club. The Anteaters made a charge in the final round, shooting five strokes better than a 49er team that entered the day with a two-shot lead over UC Davis.
No. 49 LBSU and Davis were tied going into the final two holes.
No. 59-ranked Lee Lopez finished the tournament in a four-way tie for second place after shooting 6-over 78 in the final round. The LBSU freshman started the day in a three-way tie atop the individual leaderboard and carded a 12-over 228 total. She was named the Big West Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the conference’s first-team.
Cal Poly’s Stephanie Yocum fired an even-par 72 over the final 18 holes to win the individual crown by three strokes at 9-over 225.
Senior All-American Kay Hoey ended the tournament in a three-way tie for seventh by recording a 6-over 78 total for the ‘Niners in the final round. Hoey turned in a 17-over 233 total and also was named a first-team selection.
Head coach Sue Ewart was named the Coach of the Year for the second time in her career.
Rounding out the final round totals for the 49ers, Brenda Chhuor (t-12th, 21-over 237) shot 3-over 75, Reina Rogers (17th, 24-over 240) fired an 11-over 83 and Lindsay McAtee (t-18th, 25-over 241) sank four birdies en route to a 5-over 77 total.
Men finish in 5th
The LBSU men concluded tournament play with a fifth place finish, firing a three-round score of 22-over 886. The 49ers carded a 7-over 295 in Tuesday’s final round.
Michael Drake paced the men with a three-round score of 1-under 215 to finish tied for seventh. Drake, who was named to the Big West’s second-team, started his round with two birdies on the back nine before posting a double bogey on No. 14. He drained two birdies on the front nine, but bogeyed Nos. 8 and 9 to finish his round.
Steve Gibson and Kevin Lim both wrapped up the tournament at 4-over 220 to finish in a four-way tie for 16th. Gibson shot par or better on the first six holes of the back nine, including three birdies. However, he recorded a bogey on six of the last eight holes of the front nine.
Lim, the conference’s co-Freshman of the Year along with UC Irvine’s Roberti Franciani, drained three birdies to go with three bogeys in the final round.
Austin Love and Kevin Roy finished the tournament at 16-over 232 to tie for 35th overall.
UC Davis’ Austin Graham won the individual title with a three-round score of 3-under 213. He held off fellow teammate Ramie Sprinkling in a playoff on No. 18. Sprinkling carded a bogey while Graham sank a birdie to win the event.
The Aggies also won the overall team championship at 3-under 861 and were the only team to shoot under par.
YESSSSS!!!! GO BEACH! CONGRATS SUE!!!