No. 3 Women’s Golf Wins Puerto Rico Classic in Comeback Fashion

RIO GRANDE, PUERTO RICO – The No. 3 Arkansas women’s golf team put all of the pieces together in a complete team effort in the final round of the Purdue Puerto Rico Classic to win the tournament with a 10-under 854 (293-285-276). Arkansas was in a tie for ninth after the first round and was in fourth place going into Tuesday’s final round. The Hogs fired off a season’s best 12-under 276, the best for the Hogs since 2021, to turnaround and win the tournament.

The Hogs took the lead for the first time of the tournament thru 12 holes, and after a few ties with LSU, Kajal Mistry made back-to-back birdies on her final two holes to seal the deal. Arkansas tallied 21 birdies among all four counting scores on the final day, which were all under par to beat LSU by one stroke.

Arkansas’ win at the Puerto Rico Classic marks the second of the 2023-24 season, first of the spring. This also marks team victory No. 31 for the golf program, 24th under head coach Shauna Taylor and assistant coach Mike Adams. Arkansas’ 12-under par finish is tied for the 10th lowest round vs. par in school history and the 276 is tied for the 12th lowest team round in school history.

Maria José Marin was unstoppable in the final round, matching a career-low 5-under 67 behind a bogeyless round with five birdies and 13 pars. She finished the tournament as strong as a golfer could, moving up 24 spots in the final round to end in a tie for 16th at 1-under 215 (77-71-67). José Marin finished the tournament with nine birdies and 39 pars.

Mistry played some of her best golf this season, matching a season-low round 3-under 69 on Tuesday, including back-to-back birdies in her final two holes to clinch the team win. She tallied five birdies and just two bogeys along with 10 pars to move 22 spots in the standings to finish in a tie for 35th with a 4-over 220 (76-75-69). Mistry logged nine birdies and 34 pars across tournament play.

Miriam Ayora was on a heater to begin the final round, firing off five birdies in a row to finish with six on the day. Ayora had a 2-under 70 in the final round to finish the tournament in a tie for 23rd with an even 216 (74-72-70). Her 12 birdies was tied for the second most in the tournament. She also had 28 pars and was one of seven players to have an eagle after her hole-in-one on hole No. 16 in the first round.

Reagan Zibilski was on a heater of her own with birdies on holes 14-16 to finish with a 2-under 70 in the final round. She logged five birdies and 10 pars in the third round and wrapped up the tournament in a tie for 11th with a 2-under 214 (72-72-70), tied for a team’s best among counting scores. Her par 5s average during the tournament was tied for the fourth best in the field at 4.58, while also tallying a tie for the third most birdies in the field with 12.

Competing as an individual, Ela Anacona wrapped up the tournament with the Hogs’ lowest 54-hole score at 3-under 213 (72-71-70). She ended the tournament in 10th after logging a 2-under 70 on Tuesday behind three birdies, 14 pars and just one bogey. Anacona also finished the tournament with a 4.58 par 5s average, tied for the fourth best of the tournament, along with 11 birdies.

Kendall Todd had a 1-over 73 in the final round behind two birdies, 13 pars and three bogeys. She finished the tournament in a tie for 11th with a 2-under 214 (71-70-73), tying with Zibilski for a team’s best among counting scores. Todd led the tournament field with the best par 4s average at 3.80, while also wrapping up with 37 pars and 10 birdies.

As a team, Arkansas led the tournament field with the best par 4s average (3.99) and most birdies (52). The team’s 276 was also the lowest round score of all 15 teams during the three days.

SHAUNA’S STATEMENTS

“I’m extremely grateful to start the 2024 season with a team win here in Puerto Rico, which has been very good to Arkansas women’s golf over the years. To come here this week and get the victory is a window into what our team is capable of,” said head coach Shauna Taylor. “After day one, we were in ninth place, and we were able to climb the leaderboard and put us into a position going into the final round today… We had all five girls in it all day. Miriam [Ayora] had five birdies in a row, Reagan [Zibilski] had three birdies in a row, Kajal [Mistry] birdied her last two holes. It was incredible to watch and see them perform, knowing we were in contention to win.

“It was an unbelievable performance also by Ela Anacona. I can’t say enough about how much of an amazing teammate she is, and to also come out and have an excellent performance and perform and get some more competition under her belt just says a lot about her and what she means to our team.

“I’m excited about this victory with this group. Kendall Todd was solid all three days for us, and it was really great to see Kajal come back after the first two days and shoot 69 and then obviously with Majo [Maria José Marin] starting a little rough the first day and really putting an incredible performance together with 5-under today. It just shows you I think we have a lot of depth and I’m excited to celebrate with our group. I look forward to getting back to Fayetteville and getting ready for the Moon Golf Invitational in a little over a week.”

FINAL SCORES

10 – Ela Anacona* – 72-71-70=213 (-3)
T11 – Reagan Zibilski – 72-72-70=214 (-2)
T11 – Kendall Todd – 71-70-73=214 (-2)
T16 – Maria José Marin – 77-71-67=215 (-1)
T23 – Miriam Ayora – 74-72-70=216 (E)
T35 – Kajal Mistry – 76-75-69=220 (+4)

*Played as an individual

FINAL SCORES

1 – No. 3 Arkansas – 293-285-276=854 (-10)
2 – No. 11 LSU – 283-289-283=855 (-9)
3 – No. 17 Auburn – 292-287-277=856 (-8)
4 – No. 12 Texas A&M – 284-289-285=858 (-6)
5 – No. 38 Oklahoma State – 286-289-285=860 (-4)
6 – No. 59 Georgia Southern – 290-292-288=870 (+6)
7 – TCU – 296-291-286=873 (+9)
8 – No. 50 Minnesota – 293-296-286=875 (+11)
9 – No. 58 Kansas State – 294-292-290=876 (+12)
10 – No. 22 Purdue – 291-294-295=880 (+16)
11 – No. 54 Furman – 292-291-298=881 (+17)
12 – No. 9 Ole Miss – 290-297-295=882 (+18)
13 – Mercer University – 295-308-296=899 (+35)
14 – ULM – 306-302-297=905 (+41)
15 – Cincinnati – 301-309-302=912 (+48)

UP NEXT

The Hogs will look to keep the momentum from this win rolling into their second tournament of the spring at the Moon Golf Invitational for the third straight year. The tournament will be held at Suntree Golf Club in Melbourne, Florida from Sunday, Feb. 18 to Tuesday, Feb. 20.

MORE INFORMATION

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