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Karen Valcarce Finishes First at MJGA College Invite
By: Eric Stephens
LAS VEGAS, Nev.–Westminster women's golf competed Friday and Saturday in the Minot Junior Golf Association Invitational, hosted at Aliante Golf Club in North Las Vegas Nevada. The team finished sixth, and Karen Valcarce was named the winner after a scorecard playoff.
This tournament was the first opportunity for the team to play golf since Feb. 16th, due to the heavy snow fall in SLC.
Day one was a good opportunity to shake off the rust. In addition to the teams lack of on course practice, three athletes came down with a stomach virus, severe enough to force Josephine Fraser to withdraw from both rounds. But the remainder of the team, including 2 competing as individuals, took the tee and turned in a gutsy performance. Each of the ladies were able to improve on their performances from day one, helping the fteam inish 6th place overall.
“The sickness our team has been hit with is pretty brutal,” Head Coach Denise Larson said. “I'm impressed. They have kept trying and kept pushing. We'll rest tonight and hopefully begin to physically feel better.”On the first day, Valcarce shot a 78 and was third on the leader board, one point ahead of Ashley Bixby of SMNU. Valcarce improved on her day one performance and shot a 75 to finish at 153, tied for first with Ashley Bixby of SMNU. Valcarce's chipped in birdie, on the courses most difficult hole, won her a scorecard playoff for first place.
Coach Larson was impressed with Valcarce's performance and said, “Karen's win is particularly impressive given our limited practice prior to this event. The golf course conditions were not pristine, and chipping was particularly difficult, but she stayed patient.”
The team will compete again Monday and Tuesday at the Winona State Warrior Invitational, at Stallion Mountain in Las Vegas.