Colorado Women’s Golf Rallies for Sixth at Arizona Thunderbird Intercollegiate
TUCSON, Ariz. - After a rocky start, Colorado women’s golf found its rhythm and delivered its best stretch of golf this spring, finishing sixth in a deep field at the Arizona Thunderbird Intercollegiate. The Buffaloes, ranked No. 48 nationally, posted a 28-over-par total across three rounds at Tucson Country Club - but it was their final 36 holes that told the real story.
Following a rough opening round at 20-over, Colorado regrouped in a big way. The Buffs played even-par in the second round and followed that with an 8-over in the third - a two-round stretch that was the second-best in the entire tournament.
Only top-ranked Stanford, who dominated the field en route to a 35-stroke win, posted a better finish over the final two rounds. Stanford was the lone team to finish under par, closing at 15-under.
Baylor, ranked No. 21, came in second at 19-over, just ahead of host Arizona at 20-over.
“Really proud of how the team competed today,” head coach Madeleine Sheils said. “It wasn’t easy out there, but they definitely fought until the very last putt dropped.”
Sheils had every reason to be encouraged. Not only did her squad post the second-lowest single round of the tournament, but all five players had moments worth celebrating - a promising sign for a program looking to build momentum heading into the heart of the spring season.
Strong Finishes Across the Board
The Buffs had to finish up their second round early Tuesday morning after darkness halted play on Monday. Carolyn Fuller and freshman Teemapat Pateetin each had one hole to wrap up - and both delivered.
Fuller birdied the par-4 11th to card a 68, her fourth round in the 60s this season. Pateetin closed with a 74, helping Colorado lock in an even-par team score for the second round - a major bounce-back after Monday’s opener.
That second round catapulted the Buffs into fifth place heading into the final round, where they found themselves in the thick of a Big 12-heavy logjam. Six teams shuffled between second and seventh throughout the day, with just 10 shots separating them by the end.
Texas Tech surged with a 2-over final round to take fourth, while BYU held off Colorado for fifth at 26-over. The Buffs edged out No.
18 Arizona State by a single stroke to claim sixth.
Pateetin’s Breakthrough
Pateetin’s tournament was a tale of resilience. After a tough 9-over opening round, the freshman rebounded with a 74 in round two and capped it with a 1-under 71 - the best third-round score on the team and the fourth sub-par round of her young career. Her final round featured six birdies and vaulted her into a tie for 27th overall at 10-over.
“Teem did an awesome job in the final 36 holes,” Sheils said. “We know the sky is the limit for her.”
O’Shaughnessy Stays Hot
Sophomore Ellen O’Shaughnessy continued her steady rise, finishing as Colorado’s top scorer for the second straight event. She posted rounds of 75-72-73 to finish at 4-over, tying for 13th - matching her best finish of the season.
Her second round was clean at even par, and in Tuesday’s final round, she made things interesting with an eagle on the 513-yard first hole. She gave two shots back on the next hole but responded with back-to-back birdies at the fourth and fifth to secure her fourth top-20 finish this season.
“I’m thrilled for Ellen earning back-to-back top 15s,” Sheils said. “She is really playing at a high level right now, and I’m so happy to see her hard work paying off.”
Fuller, Ngo, and McVey Round Out the Lineup
Carolyn Fuller, who started strong with her second-round 68, finished tied for 21st at 6-over. Her final round was a rollercoaster - 1-under through seven holes, then a tough seven-hole stretch cost her seven shots. But she steadied the ship down the stretch, finishing 1-under over her final six holes, including a birdie on the par-3 eighth.
Vanessa Ngo tied for 32nd at 12-over, saving her best for last with a 75 in the final round. Maya McVey tied for 42nd at 15-over, wrapping her tournament with a 77.
Stanford’s Dominance and What’s Next
Stanford once again showed why they’re the No. 1 team in the country. Andrea Revuelta, playing as an individual, claimed medalist honors at 11-under, four strokes ahead of teammate Paula Martin Sampedro. In fact, four Cardinal players finished in the top five, underscoring just how deep and talented this Stanford squad is.
For Colorado, this sixth-place finish - especially the way they closed - is a clear sign of progress. The Buffs will look to carry that momentum into the Causeway Invitational, set for Feb. 23-24 at Del Paso Country Club in Sacramento.
If this week is any indication, this Colorado team is just getting started.