Colorado Women’s Golf Opens Spring With T10 Finish in Guadalajara
After a three-month layoff following the best fall season in program history, the Colorado women’s golf team returned to action this weekend at the Collegiate Invitational at Guadalajara Country Club - and it was a tough reentry.
The Buffaloes, ranked No. 43 nationally, finished in a tie for 10th place at 39-over par for the 54-hole tournament, matching scores with former conference rival Washington. While not the start they were hoping for, the event offered a clear look at where the team stands and what needs sharpening as the spring season unfolds.
A Course That Demanded Precision
Guadalajara Country Club didn’t give much away. The 6,210-yard, par-72 layout proved to be a stern test over two days of competition.
Only three of the 36 team rounds dipped under par, and 15 rounds ballooned into double digits over par. It was the kind of course that exposed any rust - and after a long winter break, Colorado had some.
The Buffs opened on Friday with 27 holes, sitting in ninth at 16-over after the first day. They wrapped up the second round early Saturday at 13-over and closed with a 16-over 304 in the final round. It wasn’t the cleanest scorecard, but it was a valuable measuring stick.
“Tough couple of days of golf for us,” head coach Madeleine Sheils said. “We just didn’t have our best stuff, and a great golf course exposed some weaknesses in our game. This weekend showed us what we need to improve on, and we are excited to get after it when we return home.”
O'Shaughnessy Steady at the Top
Sophomore Ellen O’Shaughnessy continued to be a bright spot for Colorado, leading the team with a 3-over 219 for the tournament and securing a tie for 15th. She came out hot with a 2-under 70 in the opening round and was sitting in sixth place after Friday’s 27 holes.
Her final round started rocky - she went 4-over on the front nine - but she steadied herself on the back, playing even par and dropping a birdie on the 140-yard par-3 15th. That finish gave her a fifth career top-20 result and her third of the season.
“I’m really proud of Ellen for a solid individual performance,” Sheils said. “She showed great poise this weekend and competed hard. Just great stuff from her.”
Ngo, McVey, and the Supporting Cast
Vanessa Ngo turned in Colorado’s best final round with a 2-over 74, helping her climb into a tie for 32nd at 11-over. After starting with back-to-back bogeys, Ngo settled in quickly, birdied the par-4 third, and stayed even the rest of the way, making par on 14 of her final 15 holes.
Maya McVey saved her best for last as well, carding a 3-over 75 in the final round to finish tied for 45th at 14-over. Carolyn Fuller followed one stroke behind at 15-over (T48), while Brenna Higgins rounded out the lineup at 19-over (T53).
Florida State Claims the Title
At the top of the leaderboard, No. 28 Florida State surged past 36-hole leader Oklahoma State to win the team title at 4-over, edging the Cowgirls by three strokes.
No. 32 Houston finished third at 9-over, while host Virginia and BYU rounded out the top five.
Washington’s Carmen Lim took home individual honors with a 5-under 211, the only player in the field to post three rounds under par. Only nine of the 63 golfers finished in red numbers, highlighting just how tough the course played.
Looking Ahead
Colorado now sets its sights on the Thunderbird Intercollegiate, set for Feb. 9-10 at Tucson Country Club in Arizona. With the spring season just getting underway, there’s plenty of time - and opportunity - for the Buffs to find their rhythm.
This wasn’t the result they wanted, but it’s a starting point. And if there’s one thing we’ve seen from this squad, especially after their standout fall, it’s that they know how to bounce back.
Buffaloes Individual Scores
- T15.
Ellen O'Shaughnessy - 70-73-76-219 (+3)
- T32.
Vanessa Ngo - 77-76-74-227 (+11)
- T45.
Maya McVey - 76-79-75-230 (+14)
- T48.
Carolyn Fuller - 75-75-81-231 (+15)
- T53.
Brenna Higgins - 79-77-79-235 (+19)
Top 5 Individuals
1.
Carmen Lim (Washington) - 67-71-73-211 (-5)
T2.
Camille Min-Gaultier (TCU) - 69-71-73-213 (-3)
T2.
Samantha Olson (Tulsa) - 69-73-71-213 (-3)
T2.
Jaclyn LaHa (Virginia) - 75-67-71-213 (-3)
T2.
Maelynn Kim (Houston) - 74-72-67-213 (-3)
Top 10 Team Results
1.
Florida State - 292-292-284-868 (+4)
2.
Oklahoma State - 288-294-289-871 (+7)
3.
Houston - 293-297-283-873 (+9)
4.
Virginia - 297-291-291-879 (+15)
5.
BYU - 303-294-291-888 (+24)
6.
NC State - 301-295-293-889 (+25)
7.
Tulsa - 284-313-293-890 (+26)
8.
TCU - 293-301-301-895 (+31)
9.
Chattanooga - 296-300-302-898 (+34)
T10.
Colorado - 298-301-304-903 (+39)
T10.
Washington - 295-306-302-903 (+39)