VICTORIA, Texas – Senior
Vanessa Chap fired a 2-under 70 in the final round of Tuesday's Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) Conference Championship to win the individual title by one stroke over Winnie Hyun of British Columbia.
Chap, a graduate of Torrey Pines High School, not only becomes CSUSM's first individual conference champion, but her total of 1-under 143 is the lowest 36-hole total in the program's 16-year history.
In addition, the No. 11 Cal State San Marcos women's golf team posted their lowest score of the season with a 2-over 290 to finish runner-up in the team event, two strokes back of No. 3 British Columbia.
UBC took home its sixth-consecutive A.I.I. title with a total of 10-over 586 (288-298). CSUSM was 12-over for the competition (298-290 – 588).
CSUSM will need an at-large berth to qualify for May 12-15's NAIA National Championships, but the chances are good considering the team's national ranking and scoring average. UBC received the A.I.I.'s automatic berth by virtue of winning the postseason conference tournament.
"I told the women that they had to earn it today and they responded in a way they hadn't all year," said CSUSM head coach
Greg Hutton. "To step up and beat one of the top teams in the country in the final round of our conference tournament is awesome."
Chap started the day in a tie for fourth place after a 1-over 73 in Monday's opening round, two strokes off the pace set by UBC's Stephanie Wong and one back of UBC's Catherine Rousseau and Barbara Neto-Bradley. While the three ahead of her mustered no better than a 76, Chap posted her best score since shooting 70 as a freshman at the Lady Otter Invitational on April 17, 2012.
Not one player in program history had finished a 36-hole competition under par. The lowest 36-hole total had been
Taylor Coover's 1-over 145 in 2013-14.
Christina Trujillo, who took home runner-up honors at the 2014 A.I.I. Conference Championship, matched Chap shot-for-shot on the final day and also carded 2-under 70. Trujillo tied for third overall at 1-over 145 (75-70).
Victoria Smith posted even-par 72 and slid into solo fifth place at 2-over-par 145. Smith, Trujillo and Chap were named All-A.I.I. First Team for finishing in the top five.
The aforementioned Coover finished off the team scoring for the Cougars with a 6-over 78, taking 15
th at 10-over-par 154.
Gabby Bautista placed 17
th at 13-over-par 157 (78-79).
"It's hard to describe how this feels, bringing both teams to Texas and experiencing the success we've had over the last two days," said Hutton.
Along with the women's team's second-place finish and Chap's individual title, the CSUSM men's golf team won its
second-ever A.I.I. Conference Championship and Dylan Healey took home medalist honors at Victoria Country Club across town.
Team Leaderboard1. British Columbia 288-298 – 586, +10;
2. Cal State San Marcos 298-290 – 588, +12; 3. Houston-Victoria 300-305 – 605, +29; 4. Victoria (B.C.) 304-317 – 621, +45; 5. Northern New Mexico 346-355 – 701, +125; 6. Ashford 370-356 – 726, +150; 7. SUNY Delhi 405-391 – 796, +220.
Individual Leaderboard
1. Vanessa Chap (CSUSM) 73-70 – 143, -1; 2. Winnie Hyun (UBC) 74-70 – 144, E; T3. Brianna Carrels (UVIC) 73-72 – 145, +1;
T3. Christina Trujillo (CSUSM) 75-70 – 145, +1;
5. Victoria Smith (CSUSM) 74-72-146, +2;
Other individual scores: 15. Taylor Coover (CSUSM) 76-78 – 154, +10;
17. Gabby Bautista (CSUSM) 78-79 – 157, +13.
