Pioneer women's golf claims first ever tournament title
The Cal State East Bay women's golf team was led by Linda Brown's individual medalist honors and collected its first team title in program history at the Shootout in Arizona.
- March 11, 2012
Behind four top-10 individual finishes, including medalist honors for Linda Brown, the Cal State East Bay women’s golf team captured its first tournament title in program history at the Shootout in Arizona hosted by Lewis University at Aguila Golf Club in Phoenix on Friday. The Pioneers finished 25 strokes ahead of Lewis to claim the title, posting a second-round 309 (+21), paced by Brown’s one-over 73, to pull away and earn its second individual medalist honors of the season.
Brown continued her momentum from an impressive showing to tie for seventh in the Pioneer Shootout last week, carding a pair of top scores in Arizona. The freshman carded the best scores of each round, posting a four-over 76 to open the tournament before taking three strokes off in the second round to turn in a one-over 73 on Friday. The 73 was the San Leandro native’s best score of the season and gave her a four-stroke win over the runner up from Montreal. Brown became East Bay’s second individual medalist of the season, joining Deanna Tyndall, who took home the Western Washington Invitational title to open the fall campaign.
After helping lead the Pioneers last week, Andrea Castellanos, finished 11 strokes back of Brown to tie for third in the field of 43 players. Castellanos rebounded from an 84 in the first round to take eight strokes off her score with a second-round 76 (+4) to tie with Lewis’ top finisher. The sophomore carded a two-round total of 160 (+16) to finish 11 strokes back of Brown.
Tyndall ranked third on the team, finishing one stroke back of Castellanos at 161 (+17), to tie for fifth overall. Tyndall was one of four Pioneers to improve on day two, carding a second-round 79 (+7) to take three strokes off her opening day score. Arielle Swan-Smith joined Brown, Castellanos and Tyndall in the top 10, posting a 19-over 163. Swan-Smith took one stroke off her first-round 82 on the final day to finish eighth in the tournament. Katie Devine rounded out the Pioneer contingent, tying for 13th overall with her 169 (+25).
The entire East Bay team ranked in the top half of the individual standings and helped the Pioneers take 13 strokes off their first round score of 322. Cal State East Bay entered the second round in first place with an eight-stroke lead on Lewis and out-did the Flyers by 17 strokes in the second round to secure its first tournament win since the program began. Brown’s first-place showing marks the fifth time the Pioneers have had an individual place in the top five overall since joining Division II during the 2009-10 season.
Cal State East Bay will return to action in two weeks, when it travels to Santa Cruz. The Pioneers will tee off for the first of two rounds at the UC Santa Cruz Spring Invite at Pasatiempo Golf Club on Mar. 25.