UC Irvine Wins Big West Championship

April 24, 2007

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's golf team won the team title in the Big West Conference Championships that concluded Tuesday at Tijeras Creek Golf Club.

The UCI women's team won its third straight conference title and fourth overall with a 54-hole total of 892, 28 shots ahead of runner-up Long Beach State (920).

Long Beach State's Kay Hoey was medalist with a three-round score of 1-under 215 (71-73-71), edging UCI's Patty Chawalitmetha, who shot even-par 216 (73-66-77). Chawalitmetha was named Big West Freshman of the Year as well as to the All-Big West first team along with junior teammates Selaneé Henderson, Kim Lorenzana and Jane Chin. Chawalitmetha's 66 on the second round was a career-best and the Tijeras Creek women's record.

Henderson finished third with a 54-hole total of 218 (72-73-73), Lorenzana was seventh at 229 (76-76-77) and Chin placed 11th at 233 (80-76-77).

Freshman Henna Cho, who was named to the All-Big West second team, finished 14th at 235 (79-82-74).

UCI first-year coach Julie Brooks was named Big West Coach of the Year.

The UCI women's team earns an automatic berth into the NCAA regionals, most likely the West at Entrada at Snow Canyon in St. George, Utah, May 10-12.