In Mexico, big comeback gives Virginia the IJGA Collegiate
February 18, 2020 | by
see also: View results for Collegiate Invitational Women's, Guadalajara Country Club
The newest major event on the women's college schedule drew a strong field to Guadalajara Country Club
The Virginia women's golf team engineered a dramatic comeback over the final nine holes of play Tuesday to win the IJGA Collegiate Invitational in Guadalajara, Mexico. The Cavaliers finished the 54-hole event at 8-under par 856, two shots ahead of LSU. UVA shot 8-under 280 during the event's final round.
When play resumed Tuesday morning, with just nine holes remaining, the Cavaliers trailed the No. 18 Tigers by nine strokes. UVA's four scoring players managed to complete the back nine at the Guadalajara Country Club at a combined 5-under par. At the same time, LSU struggled down the stretch and played the same holes at 6-over par.
Sophomore Riley Smyth (Cary, N.C.) had the hot hand for Virginia during the final round, shooting 4-under 68, including birdies on her final two holes to give the Cavaliers the lead. Her final round propelled her to a 10th-place finish, the third of her career, with a score of 2-under 214.
Junior Beth Lillie (Fullerton, Calif.) posted the Hoos' best overall finish, placing sixth at 5-under 211. With UVA holding a one stroke lead, Lillie carded a birdie on the par-5 18th hole to finish her round at 2-under 70. Her 54-hole total of 5-under 211 was a career-best mark. Her finish was the ninth top-10 outing of her career.
Virginia entered the tournament ranked No. 41 in the first Golfstat standings of the spring. The event's 14-team field included six teams ranked in that poll's top-25. The Cavaliers were the host school for the tournament.
"I'm so proud of the team for our fight and belief that we can win any tournament we play in," Lillie said. "Our grit and confidence really showed competing in this stacked field. The energy from everyone was some of the best I've ever been a part of in my three years so far and I can't wait to compete the rest of the spring."
Lillie had 41 pars during the event, the most of any of the 73 competitors.
Smyth led the field during the week by playing the course's four par-5 holes at 9-under par, including three birdies on those holes during the final round.
"Going into the last nine holes, even knowing we were nine shots back, we never gave up and I could feel the energy throughout the team this morning," Smyth said. "I'm really proud of how we came together as a team this week and how hard we worked until the last putt."
The victory was the first for Virginia since its 2018 season-opening win at Michigan State's Mary Fossum Invitational in Ria Scott's debut as UVA's head coach.
"From the minute they arrived in Guadalajara, our team's mindset and attitudes were in the right place," Scott said. "We are so proud that the hard work they've been putting in has come together in for them in competition. Marissa (Dodd, assistant coach) and I have always believed that this team is good - hopefully this win helps them realize it to be true."
-- Thanks to the University of Virginia Women's Golf for this report.
When play resumed Tuesday morning, with just nine holes remaining, the Cavaliers trailed the No. 18 Tigers by nine strokes. UVA's four scoring players managed to complete the back nine at the Guadalajara Country Club at a combined 5-under par. At the same time, LSU struggled down the stretch and played the same holes at 6-over par.
Junior Beth Lillie (Fullerton, Calif.) posted the Hoos' best overall finish, placing sixth at 5-under 211. With UVA holding a one stroke lead, Lillie carded a birdie on the par-5 18th hole to finish her round at 2-under 70. Her 54-hole total of 5-under 211 was a career-best mark. Her finish was the ninth top-10 outing of her career.
Virginia entered the tournament ranked No. 41 in the first Golfstat standings of the spring. The event's 14-team field included six teams ranked in that poll's top-25. The Cavaliers were the host school for the tournament.
Meet IJGA Collegiate Invitational’s head rules official, Claudia Camargo:
— Virginia Women's Golf (@UVAWomensGolf) February 16, 2020
• Head of FMG’s national Rules Committee, IGF Women’s Chair
• Officiated at @Olympics, @TheOpen, @usopengolf, 3 @uswomensopen #RulesQueen 👑 pic.twitter.com/NWKpsumZQs
"I'm so proud of the team for our fight and belief that we can win any tournament we play in," Lillie said. "Our grit and confidence really showed competing in this stacked field. The energy from everyone was some of the best I've ever been a part of in my three years so far and I can't wait to compete the rest of the spring."
Lillie had 41 pars during the event, the most of any of the 73 competitors.
Smyth led the field during the week by playing the course's four par-5 holes at 9-under par, including three birdies on those holes during the final round.
"Going into the last nine holes, even knowing we were nine shots back, we never gave up and I could feel the energy throughout the team this morning," Smyth said. "I'm really proud of how we came together as a team this week and how hard we worked until the last putt."
The victory was the first for Virginia since its 2018 season-opening win at Michigan State's Mary Fossum Invitational in Ria Scott's debut as UVA's head coach.
"From the minute they arrived in Guadalajara, our team's mindset and attitudes were in the right place," Scott said. "We are so proud that the hard work they've been putting in has come together in for them in competition. Marissa (Dodd, assistant coach) and I have always believed that this team is good - hopefully this win helps them realize it to be true."
-- Thanks to the University of Virginia Women's Golf for this report.
Results: Collegiate Invitational Women's
| Place | Player | Location | Pts | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta, GA | 700 | 70-68-68=206 | |
| 2 | , Sweden | 500 | 66-70-71=207 | |
| 3 | , France | 400 | 73-69-67=209 | |
| T4 | , Sweden | 400 | 68-72-70=210 | |
| T4 | , France | 400 | 68-70-72=210 |
About the Collegiate Invitational Women's
54-hole women's college tournament hosted by the University of Virginia and run by the Mexican Golf Federation. Team (best four out of five scores each round) and individual competitions.
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