SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah – The Cowgirl golf team started the season with an impressive runner-up finish at the Wolverine Invitational here Tuesday on the TalonsCove Golf Club.
 
Wyoming finished 4-under in the third round (284), the lowest score of the 10-team field, and -11 (853) for the 54-hole tournament to finish second, just three shots behind champion Cal State Northridge (-14, 850).

Elle Higgins, who set the program record for individual low round with a 68 (-5) in the opening round Monday, was 2-under in the final round Tuesday to finish second on the individual leaderboard at -7 (209), two strokes behind medalist Ashley Lam (-9, 207) of Westminster College.

The Montana transfer birdied holes 13, 15 and 16 to finish with a 33 on the back nine to pace the pin-seeking Pokes.

 

“Elle played very poised and patient which boosted her fantastic birdie run on the back nine,” UW head coach Josey Stender said. “I think the sky is the limit for her.”

 

True freshman Kiley Reisner (-2) and senior Meghan Vogt (-2) finished tied for 10th and sophomore Lucia Morelli tied for 15th after finishing the tournament at even par. Sophomore Kira Reisner rounded out UW’s scoring at 9-over for the tournament, which tied her for 31st in the field of 66 players.

 

“I’m so incredibly proud of the effort and fight by the team today,” Stender said. “They have worked tirelessly on being present, not outcome driven, which really paid off in the heat of the moment today.”

 

The Cowgirls’ shot 282 (-6) in the second round to break the program’s low team round record of 285 (-3) set at the Colorado State Wollenberg Ram Classic in 2022.

 

UW gained three strokes on Cal State Northridge during the final round and pulled away from third-place finisher Weber State by two strokes.

“A finish like this affirms we are on the right track and building our confidence,” Stender said.

 

The Cowgirls will next plat at the Ram Classic Sept. 22-23 at Ptarmigan Golf Club.

 

Wolverine Invitational Team Scores

 

1. Cal State Northridge – 280-283-287-850 (-14)

2. Wyoming – 287-282-284-853 (-11)

3. Weber State – 287-283-285-855 (-9)

4. Utah Tech – 285-285-291-861 (-3)

5. Utah Valley – 294-296-290-880 (+16)

6. Cal State Bakersfield – 296-295-292-884 (+20)

7. Lamar – 294-299-299-892 (+28)

8. Southern Utah – 293-297-308-898 (+34)

9. Westminster (Utah) – 303-307-294-904 (+40)

10. Idaho State – 306-301-304-911 (+47)

Cowgirls Team Scores

 

2 Elle Higgins 67-72-70-209 (-7)

T10 Kiley Reisner 74-68-72-214 (-2)

T10 Meghan Vogt 74-69-71-214 (-2)

T15 Lucia Morelli 72-73-71-216 (E)

T31 Kira Reisner 75-74-76-225 (+9)

T38 Emerson Purcell (IND) 78-78-71-227 (+11)