Host Arizona State cruises to PING/ASU Invitational Title

TEMPE, AZ (April 9, 2017) - With a tournament record 25-under showing host Arizona State has won the PING/ASU Invitational for the first time since 2007. Arizona (-5) finished as the distant runner-up, defending NCAA champion Washington (E) was third, Baylor (+2) ended up fourth while Oregon State (+8); UNLV (+8) shared fifth. Beginning the final day Karsten Golf Course ahead by three shots the Sun Devils poured it on Sunday with an impressive 15-under day. The round of the day for ASU came from Linnea Strom who fired a closing 7-under 65 to finish tied for fifth at 3-under. Also recording a top finish for the Sun Devils was Olivia Mehaffey who tied for eighth at 2-under. However, the top Sun Devil for the tournament was Roberta Liti. Coming into the weekend Liti had never recorded a top-10 finish but with a final round 4-under 68 Liti tallied a 10-under total to win individual honors by one shot over teammate and runner-up Monica Vaughn (-9). Liti turned in 2-under 33 before posting a pair of birdies as part of a bogey-free back nine. The winning birdie ended up coming on No. 17. The top-five of the individual standings were rounded out by Krystal Quihuis of Arizona at 7-under in third, Ellen Takada of Washington took fourth with a 5-under showing while Haley Moore of Arizona, Strom and Paige Nelson of Kansas State shared fifth at 3-under. ROUND TWO RECAP After beginning the day tied for the lead, host Arizona State will now begin the final round of the PING/ASU Invitational in front by three-strokes. ASU, 10-under, will try to fend off among other teams on Sunday at Karsten Golf Course, instate rival Arizona who at 7-under is in second place. The low Sun Devil continues to be medalist leader Monica Vaughn. One day after a stellar 8-under 64, Vaughn did well to produce an even-par 72. Vaughn started off well enough with 2nd and 7th hole birdies and she did birdie five-times overall but she also bogeyed once and double-bogeyed on two separate occasions. The low Arizona State round of the day came from Roberta Liti who fired a 3-under 69 and at 6-under she is tied for second with Krystal Quihuis of Arizona. Behind the duo sharing second comes Paige Nelson (Kansas State) at 5-under in fourth place and Haley Moore (Arizona) in fifth at 4-under. Completing the top-five in the teams standings are Baylor (-1) in second, followed by UNLV (+1) in fourth and Washington (++5); Kansas State (+5) in fifth. ROUND ONE RECAP After day one of the PING/ASU Invitational at Karsten Golf Course it is host Arizona State and Baylor leading the way by a large margin. Both teams are 10-under and nine shots in front of Washington; Arizona in third at 1-under and UNLV in fifth at 1-over. Pacing Arizona State and the field following play on Friday is Monica Vaughn at 8-under. The sparkling 64 was a wonderful display of golf with eight birdies, two bogeys and an eagle on the par-5 14th. Vaughn teed off on No. 10 and from Nos. 14-5 she played the stretch in 8-under. Also inside the top-20 for ASU are Roberta Liti (T3; -3) and Olivia Mehaffey (T18; E). Baylor was led into a share of the lead by the 4-under Dylan Kim. Throughout her first round, Kim birdied four-times, eagled the 14th and bogeyed twice. The Bears currently have three additional players in the top-10; Fiona Liddell IT3; -3), Amy Lee (T6; -2) and Cheerie Tan (T10; -1). Rounding out the top-five of the individual standings is Paige Nelson of Kansas State in a tie for third at 3-under. Nelson joins Liti and Liddell in third place.