Women's Golf | 3/9/2025 6:41:00 PM

Utah Tech rode a strong final round push to rally for a sixth-place finish at the Southern Utah Pizza Hut Lady Thunderbird Invitational, which wrapped up play on Sunday at Sunbrook Golf Club in St. George.
 
The Blazers' sixth place result is the team's fourth top-six showing in seven team events this season.
 
After opening with an 18-over 306 on Friday, Utah Tech improved by nine shots on its second loop on Saturday with a 9-over 297, which moved the team up one spot from ninth place to eighth on the team leaderboard.
 
The Trailblazers then combined for three under-par loops on Sunday on their way to a final round 2-under 286 to finish with a team score of plus-25 889. 

Northern Arizona (299-289-283-871; +7) carded an event low 5-under 283 on Sunday to leap over UC Riverside (293-289-291-873; +9) and claim the team title by two strokes, while Stetson (298-287-292-877; +13) placed third.
 
Sophomore Samantha Phelan came away with her best overall collegiate finish as she tied for third overall at even par 216. After opening with a 3-over 75 with 16 pars, Phelan rebounded with five birdies en route to a 2-under 70, which vaulted her 14 spots into solo sixth place. 
 
Phelan followed that up with a 1-under 71 on Sunday in a round that featured four more birdies and her first collegiate hole-in-one, which came on the par-3 third hole on The Pointe nine-hole side. That effort led the sophomore to come away with her third top-five of the season overall. 
 
Junior Jenna Anderson opened her tournament with consecutive 75s on Friday and Saturday, but came back on Sunday to fire a 71 to climb 12 spots on the leaderboard into a five-way tie for 15^th at plus-5 221. Anderson was steady on her final loop, penciling in two birdies and 15 pars on her scorecard.
 
Meanwhile, freshman Maria Purroy Galan also got into the act on Sunday with a final round 71 of her own with four birdies. Galan's 71 offset an opening 7-over 79 and a second round 4-over 76, and moved her 13 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 32^nd at plus-10 226. 
 
Junior Jane Olson (78-76-73) finished a shot back of Galan in t-36^th at plus-11 227, thanks in part to a final round 1-over 73 during which she rolled in three birdies, while sophomore Mia Cesarek (78-76-75) tied for 42^nd at plus-13 229. 
 
In addition, two Trailblazers made their Utah Tech season debuts playing as individuals. Junior Samira Salinas (80-85-72) rebounded from a tough 36-hole start with an even par 72 to tie for 52^nd at plus-19 235, and freshman Gabrielle Roznicki (84-84-77-245; +29) recorded five total birdies in her first collegiate event.
 
Utah Tech will close out the 2024-25 regular season with an appearance at the Montana State Bobcat Desert Classic, which will be played on April 7-9, at The Golf Club of Estrella in Goodyear, Ariz.