Monday, February 26
Jurupa Valley, Calif.
8:00 AM
California Baptist University
vs
The Lancer Joust
Photo by: Andrew Shortall
Lancers, Wang Sweep Joust Titles
2/27/2018 3:57:00 PM | Women's Golf
RESULTS
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – A seven-stroke advantage did not lead to complacency for California Baptist University going into the second and final round of its host Lancer Joust Tuesday at the Goose Creek Golf Club as the Lancers swept both the team and individual titles.
CBU enjoyed a six-stroke cushion in winning the team title with a 591 (294-297) over Cal State San Marcos (597), but it all came down to a playoff hole in deciding the individual champion between the Lancers' Yifei "Sunny" Wang and the Cougars' Bergen Benedict.
Wang delivered a clean sweep of the Joust titles with a birdie on the par-five, 18th hole used for the playoff.
"It feels really good, especially since it's our last at Division II, to go out with a bang, at a new golf course," said Coach Marc Machado, with CBU hosting its tournament at Goose Creek for the first time this season. "We just stuck to our game plan, we needed to control the controllables and our heart down the stretch."
Wang and Benedict each shot 73 in both rounds to finish with 146 totals at the end of 36 holes.
"Personally, I was really excited to play in a playoff – it was my first time ever," said Wang, who was making her home debut with CBU after she transferred in during the Christmas break from Fresno State.
There was little between Benedict and Wang on the first few shots, with a poor tee shot putting Wang in the rough.
"I still kept calm, I didn't want to give up," said Wang, who laid up using her hybrid club to put herself in a good position on the fairway.
It left her about 120 yards out from the pin – within striking distance.
"I checked the wind and the green and decided to go for it. You only have one chance in a playoff – you have to go for it," Wang said.
The ball went straight to the pin and it landed right next to it, which left her with a tap-in birdie putt.
"I heard the crowd scream so I knew I hit a good shot. It was exhilarating seeing how good a shot it was, I wish I could always hit like that," Wang said.
Benedict put herself on the green with her third shot, but was left with a tough putt for birdie and missed it before coming away with a par.
"Sunny was a total gift out of nowhere," Machado said of the midseason transfer. "I am glad she's here and she's been an immediate impact player for us from the get go. She has that killer instinct and is confident in herself. She hit a phenomenal shot, one of the best clutch shots I've seen on a playoff hole."
It helped give the Lancers get a bit of redemption after it lost the 2018 PLNU Reach title to the Cougars by just three shots (600-603) last time out on Feb. 6. Academy of Art took third place (603) Tuesday, while CBU also got a win over seventh-ranked Tarleton State (613, fourth).
Along with Wang, three Lancers played their way into the top five of the tournament. Jocelyn Chee took third as an individual with a 147 (70-77) after she held the first-round lead with the best 18-hole score of the tournament.
"It was a great tournament for Sunny, for the team, our individual Jocelyn and it was just a total team effort," Machado said.
Kristyna Abrahamova tied for a fourth-place finish when with a 148 after she shot 75 or better in both rounds (73-75), joining Wang as the only other Lancer to do so this week.
Sharon Oh and Samantha Martirez both tied for sixth place to put five Lancers in the top-six of the 96-player tournament with 149s. Both carded rounds of 77 and 72, with Martirez shooting even par on Tuesday, with three birdies in her round and going even par on her final seven holes.
Erica Wang took 22nd for CBU with a 155 (76-79), while individual Jordan Martin improved by nine strokes on Tuesday, with a 77, to move 25 places up the leaderboard and take 59th with a 163.
"Everybody had a good round and contributed, it shows our depth," Machado said of the tournament. "This young team is getting confidence now, seeing they can win and seeing we have the depth to do it."
While Yifei Wang was happy to win individually, it was even more important to win as a team Tuesday.
"I am really happy we defended the title. I really enjoyed this tournament and winning with all the girls, it's really something special," Wang said. "I believe we can achieve something greater in our last year in D-II."
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – A seven-stroke advantage did not lead to complacency for California Baptist University going into the second and final round of its host Lancer Joust Tuesday at the Goose Creek Golf Club as the Lancers swept both the team and individual titles.
CBU enjoyed a six-stroke cushion in winning the team title with a 591 (294-297) over Cal State San Marcos (597), but it all came down to a playoff hole in deciding the individual champion between the Lancers' Yifei "Sunny" Wang and the Cougars' Bergen Benedict.
Wang delivered a clean sweep of the Joust titles with a birdie on the par-five, 18th hole used for the playoff.
"It feels really good, especially since it's our last at Division II, to go out with a bang, at a new golf course," said Coach Marc Machado, with CBU hosting its tournament at Goose Creek for the first time this season. "We just stuck to our game plan, we needed to control the controllables and our heart down the stretch."
Wang and Benedict each shot 73 in both rounds to finish with 146 totals at the end of 36 holes.
"Personally, I was really excited to play in a playoff – it was my first time ever," said Wang, who was making her home debut with CBU after she transferred in during the Christmas break from Fresno State.
There was little between Benedict and Wang on the first few shots, with a poor tee shot putting Wang in the rough.
"I still kept calm, I didn't want to give up," said Wang, who laid up using her hybrid club to put herself in a good position on the fairway.
It left her about 120 yards out from the pin – within striking distance.
"I checked the wind and the green and decided to go for it. You only have one chance in a playoff – you have to go for it," Wang said.
The ball went straight to the pin and it landed right next to it, which left her with a tap-in birdie putt.
"I heard the crowd scream so I knew I hit a good shot. It was exhilarating seeing how good a shot it was, I wish I could always hit like that," Wang said.
Benedict put herself on the green with her third shot, but was left with a tough putt for birdie and missed it before coming away with a par.
"Sunny was a total gift out of nowhere," Machado said of the midseason transfer. "I am glad she's here and she's been an immediate impact player for us from the get go. She has that killer instinct and is confident in herself. She hit a phenomenal shot, one of the best clutch shots I've seen on a playoff hole."
It helped give the Lancers get a bit of redemption after it lost the 2018 PLNU Reach title to the Cougars by just three shots (600-603) last time out on Feb. 6. Academy of Art took third place (603) Tuesday, while CBU also got a win over seventh-ranked Tarleton State (613, fourth).
Along with Wang, three Lancers played their way into the top five of the tournament. Jocelyn Chee took third as an individual with a 147 (70-77) after she held the first-round lead with the best 18-hole score of the tournament.
"It was a great tournament for Sunny, for the team, our individual Jocelyn and it was just a total team effort," Machado said.
Kristyna Abrahamova tied for a fourth-place finish when with a 148 after she shot 75 or better in both rounds (73-75), joining Wang as the only other Lancer to do so this week.
Sharon Oh and Samantha Martirez both tied for sixth place to put five Lancers in the top-six of the 96-player tournament with 149s. Both carded rounds of 77 and 72, with Martirez shooting even par on Tuesday, with three birdies in her round and going even par on her final seven holes.
Erica Wang took 22nd for CBU with a 155 (76-79), while individual Jordan Martin improved by nine strokes on Tuesday, with a 77, to move 25 places up the leaderboard and take 59th with a 163.
"Everybody had a good round and contributed, it shows our depth," Machado said of the tournament. "This young team is getting confidence now, seeing they can win and seeing we have the depth to do it."
While Yifei Wang was happy to win individually, it was even more important to win as a team Tuesday.
"I am really happy we defended the title. I really enjoyed this tournament and winning with all the girls, it's really something special," Wang said. "I believe we can achieve something greater in our last year in D-II."
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
Beyond The: Course w/ Baiplu Pusanisa Ekkantrong
Wednesday, May 28
CBU Palm Walks - Sofia Chabon
Friday, February 04
CBU Palm Walks - Belle Balkan
Friday, February 04
CBU Women's Golf WAC Tournament - Round 3
Wednesday, April 21
