UTEP Women's Golf Team Faces Tough Challenge at Albuquerque Invitational

In a spirited display of talent and determination, the UTEP women’s golf team recently concluded their participation in the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico, finishing in 13th place with a total score of 917 (+53). Despite the challenges, individual performances shone brightly amidst the competition.

Top Performers for UTEP

• Luciana Origel was the standout player for UTEP, tying for 50th place with a 13-over par score of 229 (75-76-78). Her performance included an impressive tally of six birdies over three rounds.
• Nichapas Thawinwan made her collegiate debut, tying for 60th place with a score of 15-over par 231 (75-60-76), and recorded five birdies throughout the tournament.
• Daniela Chipchase finished tied for 63rd with a 16-over par 232 (80-75-77), also contributing six birdies to her team’s efforts.
• Lea Dawson and Marta Romeu Chen both tied for 65th at 17-over par 233 (Dawson: 80-76-77; Romeu Chen: 76-76-81). Notably, Dawson hit six birdies while Romeu Chen led the team with nine birdies.
• Taline Kyoumjian, competing as an individual, matched Origel’s score of 229 (80-70-79), tying for 50th. Her second-round score of 70 marked the lowest one-round score by any Miner in the tournament.

Standout Competitors

On the individual leaderboard, Lauren Gomez from Pepperdine emerged as the champion, finishing with an impressive 11-under par 205 (67-71-67). Following her, Jasmine Leovao from Long Beach State secured second place with an 8-under par 208 (66-74-68). Both Toa Yokoyama from UNLV and Davina Xanh from CSU Fullerton tied for third at 6-under par 210.

Team Highlights

The Long Beach State team claimed the overall title, concluding the tournament with a 1-under par score of 863 (284-299-280), showcasing their exceptional skills on the course.

Next Steps for UTEP

The UTEP women’s golf team will regroup and prepare for their next challenge at the Red Raider Invitational, hosted by Texas Tech in Lubbock on September 24-25. This upcoming event presents another opportunity for the Miners to showcase their growth and resilience in the competitive collegiate golf scene.

What do you think?

• Should UTEP consider changing their training strategy based on their recent performance?
• What are the key factors that contribute to a team’s success in collegiate golf?
• Is it time for UTEP to invest more resources into their women's golf program?
• How do individual performances impact team morale and future competitions?
• Could the addition of new talent significantly change the team's trajectory this season?