Razorback Women, José Marin Win Blessings Collegiate Invitational
FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas women’s golf team defended its home course, winning the 2023 Blessings Collegiate Invitational. Freshman Maria José Marin also won individual medalist honors in just her second collegiate appearance.
Round three of the tournament began as planned, but a lightening delay suspended play mid round, as the team group was getting ready to tee off at hole three and the individual group finished up at hole six. After over an hour in a delay, the decision was made at noon to cancel play. Results after 36 holes became the final scores.
Arkansas finished the tournament at 11-under par after posting a 285 on Monday and a BCI record 280 on Tuesday for a BCI record 36-hole total of 565. The team won the BCI by 14 shots to claim the title for the third time in four years, as well as 30th team title in school history. José Marin won her first collegiate tournament with a 10-under 134 (67-67). The Arkansas men’s and women’s teams swept all awards, also claiming the 2023 BCI Combined title. José Marin and John Driscoll won the Best Ball with -20.
José Marin won the 2023 BCI behind a tournament-high 16 birdies, eight in each round, to finish at -10 with two straight 67s. In five rounds played in collegiate play, José Marin has finished under par in each round with four in the 60s.
Four Hogs finished the tournament in the top five. Miriam Ayora logged a career-best third place showing with a 4-under 140 (70-70). The Spaniard tallied nine birdies on the tournament. Ela Anacona also tallied a career-best showing with fourth place with a 3-under 141 (68-73). She was one of three in the tournament to make an eagle and logged eight birdies in two rounds.
Freshman Abbey Schutte got her collegiate career started on a high note, tying for fifth place with a 2-under 142 (71-71). Schutte finished the tournament with 10 birdies, including five on the front nine in round one.
Moving eight spots between rounds one and two, Kendall Todd logged her first top 10 finish as a Razorback with a 1-over 145 (74-71). She finished with eight birdies on the week.
Reagan Zibilski moved six spots between two rounds to log a 3-over 147 (75-72), tying for 16th. Kajal Mistry (74-74) and Julia Gregg (73-75) tied for 19th with a 4-over 148. Rounding out the Hogs, Cory Lopez tied for 41st with a 13-over 157 (79-78) and Giovanna Fernandez tied for 46th with a 17-over 161 (83-78).
FINAL INDIVIDUAL SCORES
1 – Maria José Marin – 67-67=134 (-10)
3 – Miriam Ayora – 70-70=140 (-4)
4 – Ela Anacona* – 68-73=141 (-3)
T5 – Abbey Schutte* – 71-71=142 (-2)
T10 – Kendall Todd – 74-71=145 (+1)
T16 – Reagan Zibilski – 75-72=147 (+3)
T19 – Kajal Mistry – 74-74=148 (+4)
T19 – Julia Gregg* – 73-75=148 (+4)
T41 – Cory Lopez *– 79-78=157 (+13)
T46 – Giovanna Fernandez* – 83-78=161 (+17)
* – Individual
FINAL TEAM SCORES
1 – No. 3 Arkansas – 285-280=565 (-11)
2 – No. 29 Mississippi State – 289-290=579 (+3)
3 – No. 9 Clemson – 303-283=586 (+10)
4 – No. 3 Arkansas (B) – 291-297=588 (+12) (all individuals)
5 – No. 5 South Carolina – 295-294=589 (+13)
6 – No. 38 North Texas – 304-289=593 (+17)
7 – Washington – 295-301=596 (+20)
8 – NC State – 301-302=603 (+27)
9 – No. 42 Minnesota – 312-298=610 (+34)
10 – No. 28 Kentucky – 311-303=614 (+38)
UP NEXT
The Hogs have a quick turnaround, as the team plays in the Jackson T. Stephens Cup from Monday, Oct. 9 to Wednesday, Oct. 11 at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas. Coverage of the tournament will be broadcast on the Golf Channel all three days.
MORE INFORMATION
Keep up with all of the latest news and information and get behind the scenes looks into our program on our social media accounts. Follow us on Twitter at @RazorbackWGolf and check out our Facebook page “Razorback Women’s Golf.” Stats, news and player information can be found at ArkansasRazorbacks.com.
