June 18, 2009

UCI FINISHES 22ND AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS: The UC Irvine women’s golf team finished 22^nd at the NCAA Championships held at the Caves Valley Golf Club, Owings Mills, Maryland.

The Anteaters shot a 301 on the final 18 holes, their best round of the tournament, to move up to 22^nd place with a 72-hole total of 1,249 (320-316-312-301). Arizona State won the 24-team tournament with a score of 1,182 (302-298-291-291), eight shots ahead of second place UCLA. Purdue’s Maria Hernandez was the individual champion with a one-over par 289 (74-72-72-71).

Senior Jane Chin ended her UCI career in16^th place, the highest finish ever for an Anteater player at the NCAA Championships. She carded a 298 (75-75-75-73) over four days of competition. Junior Patty Chawalitmetha was tied for 70^th with a score of 311 (78-80-76-77), while freshman Lalita Patipaksiri was tied for 107^th with a 320 (80-82-80-78). Freshman Joy Trotter improved 11 shots from her third round with a 74 Friday and ended the tournament with a score of 325 (87-79-85-74). Sophomore Hillary Packard recorded a 327 (87-82-81-77) and was tied for 115^th.

Senior Jane Chin was second in the country in the final Golfstat rankings and was eighth by GolfWeek. Chin led the country in Par 3 scoring (2.89), third in Subpar Strokes Per Round (3.63) and ninth in Par 4 Scoring (4.08). Joy Trotter is 17^th in Par 5 scoring (4.85).

CHIN NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN: Senior Jane Chin became the first UCI women’s golfer to be named first team All-American by the National Golf Coaches Association.

Chin becomes the second Anteater to gain NGCA All-American honors all-time joining Walailak Satarak who was named honorable mention in 2002.

Chin was also awarded NGCA All-West Region distinction as well as Big West Women's Golfer of the Year. Chin joins Walailak Satarak (2002) and Selaneé Henderson (2006) in winning the Player of the Year title.

Chin earned medalist honors three times this season and placed second three times plus three other top 10 finishes.

Junior Patty Chawalitmetha, sophomore Hillary Packard and freshman Joy Trotter were named to the All-Big West second team.

UCI CAPTURES THREE TITLES THIS SEASON: UC Irvine captured three tournament titles in 2008-09, the first time in program history that the Anteaters have won three tournaments in a single season.

In the spring, UCI won the Fresno State Lexus Classic at the Copper River Country Club with a score of 891 (297-294-300). In the fall, the Anteaters finished first at the Price’s “Give’Em Five” Invitational (881) and Coast BMW Invitational (909).