Scarlet Knights Shine at Westbrook Invitational
In a dazzling display of skill and composure, the Rutgers women's golf team has positioned itself third after the first day of the Westbrook Invitational in Peoria, Arizona. Tied with No.
26 Kansas State and No. 37 Kansas, the Scarlet Knights posted an impressive 14-under-par 562 (282-280) across the opening two rounds.
Leading the charge for Rutgers is graduate senior Grace Lu, who is tied for fourth in a competitive 82-player field. Lu's stellar performance included a career-best five-under-par 67 in the opening round, followed by a solid 70, placing her just two strokes behind the leaders, Mariana Mesones from Minnesota and Noa van Beek from Kansas State.
As they head into Monday's final round at 10:30 a.m. ET, Lu remains focused and optimistic.
"The greens here roll really nicely," Lu noted. "I just told myself to remain patient as there are a lot of opportunities to score at Westbrook. Tomorrow, our goal as a team is to be present and in the moment throughout the final round."
Sophomore Joline Truong also put up a career-low five-under-par 67, securing her spot in the top 10 with a five-under-par 139 (72-67). Joining Lu and Truong in the top 30 are junior Krystal Li and sophomore Judy Amano, both tied at 29th, contributing to a total of eight rounds of even or under-par golf for the team on Sunday.
Reflecting on her performance, Truong shared, "I had a bumpy start but stayed patient and trusted that there are many birdie chances on this course. I'm proud of how everyone played today and we're excited to come back and finish strong tomorrow."
The Scarlet Knights are trailing No. 23 Arizona, which leads the tournament with a 22-under-par 554 (276-278), and No.
35 Missouri, sitting second at 20-under. Rutgers boasts the best two-round total among Big Ten programs, outpacing Minnesota, Nebraska, Penn State, and Wisconsin.
Head coach Kari Williams expressed her pride in the team's performance, stating, "We rolled in a lot of birdies and played aggressively when we could. It was great to see everyone compete hard and move us up the leaderboard in the afternoon. We'll look to keep the momentum going in the final round."
Day One Highlights:
- Weather: Sunny, mid-70s, with light winds.
- Round 1: Rutgers opened with a six-under-par 282, with standout performances from Lu and Li.
Lu's five-under-par 67 was a personal best, while Li contributed with a one-under-par 71.
- Round 2: Truong surged with a six-birdie round for a five-under-par 67, while Lu's consistent play kept her near the top with a two-under-par 70.
Amano added a one-under-par 71 to the team's strong showing.
Junior Emily James, competing as an individual, is tied for 72nd.
As the Scarlet Knights gear up for the final round, they aim to maintain their momentum and make a strong push up the leaderboard. With the combination of strategic play and team spirit, Rutgers is poised to leave a mark at the Westbrook Invitational.