Baylor Women Battle Back for Runner-Up Finish at Arizona Thunderbird Intercollegiate
TUCSON, Ariz. - The Baylor women’s golf team showed some serious grit in the desert this week. After slipping as low as fifth place early in the final round, the No. 21-ranked Bears clawed their way back to secure a second-place finish at the Arizona Thunderbird Intercollegiate - trailing only a dominant Stanford squad that lived up to its No. 1 billing.
Baylor closed with a 10-over 298 on Tuesday, bringing their tournament total to 19-over 883. That performance not only marked their seventh straight top-five finish this season, but also their fourth time cracking the top two. This is a team that’s consistently in the mix - and Tuesday was another example of their ability to respond when the pressure mounts.
Head coach Jay Goble praised his squad’s resilience after a rocky start to the day.
“We did not have our best stuff today, and at one point we had fallen to fifth place,” Goble said. “For us to go out there today and fight for every shot is something I love to see.”
At the top of the Bears’ leaderboard was senior Silje Ohma, who put together one of the more eventful rounds of the day. Her final-round 1-over 73 included an eagle, three birdies, and a triple-bogey - a rollercoaster performance that ultimately landed her tied for fifth at 3-under 213.
It’s her second top-five finish of the season and the ninth of her career. More importantly, it was a round that showed her ability to steady the ship after a rough start.
“Silje played a fantastic event, especially today, when she did not get off to a great start,” Goble said. “She birdied the last hole to shoot 1-over, which was a great score having been 5-over through the first seven holes. And I believe she is getting her game on track.”
Sophomore Malena Castro continued her strong stretch of play, narrowly missing back-to-back top-10s. She posted a 2-over 74 in the final round to tie for 11th at 3-over 219. Castro’s consistency has been a key part of Baylor’s success this spring, and this week was no exception.
Senior Bridget Boczar returned to the team lineup after a top-15 individual finish in the season opener and delivered three straight rounds of 2-over 74. That kind of steady play earned her a tie for 21st at 6-over 222 - a solid showing in a tightly packed field.
Freshman Amelia Wan contributed counting scores in all three rounds, finishing tied for 34th at 13-over 229. For a first-year player, that kind of reliability is exactly what coaches look for in the middle of the lineup.
Another freshman, Pamola Ibarra Ambia, made her debut in the team lineup this week. While the results didn’t go her way - three rounds in the 80s - the experience will be valuable as she continues to adjust to the collegiate level. Senior Mallory Matthews, competing as an individual, tied for 47th at 16-over 232.
Stanford, meanwhile, was in a class of its own. With five players ranked inside the top 25 nationally, the Cardinal ran away with the title at 16-under 848 - a staggering 35 shots clear of Baylor.
But for the Bears, the takeaway wasn’t about chasing Stanford’s historic depth. It was about responding to adversity, and they did just that.
Next up, Baylor heads back to Texas for the Chevron Collegiate, set for Feb. 23-24 at the Golf Club of Houston. If this week was any indication, the Bears are building momentum - and they’re not going quietly.