The ASU women's golf team came up short of making the top 10 again last weekend when they finished in 12th place at the Stanford/Pepsi Intercollegiate in Palo Alto, Calif.
During the three-day event at the par 72, 6,218-yard Stanford Golf Course, the Sun Devils attempted to climb back into the top 10 after a rough 16th-place start. However, they were 11 strokes away from that mark when finishing at a 75-over 939 (325-300-314).
ASU checked in 54 strokes behind California, which captured the tournament crown with a three-round total of 21-over 885. Vanderbilt (887) came in two strokes behind, while Washington (890), New Mexico (896) and UA (900) rounded out the top five.
Stanford finished ninth in its home event. The Cardinal have captured the title four times, most recently in 1997.
Senior Blair O'Neal led the Sun Devils by finishing tied for 45th-place at 17-over 233 (82-75-76). ASU senior Melanie Hunt carded a 19-over 235 (81-77-77) to claim a tie for 54th place. Hunt's contributions, however, did not count toward the overall team score since she competed as an individual.
Sophomore Josefin Gustafsson finished tied for 57th place at 20-over 236 (81-78-77), while senior Gaëlle Truet (84-71-83) and sophomore Erin Tone (79-77-82) both logged a tie for 62nd place at 22-over 238.
For Truet, her one-under 71 in the second round was ASU's low for the tournament. It marked the only under par effort from any Sun Devil. But Truet's other pair of rounds in the 80s cost her a chance at medalist honors.
ASU freshman Alissa finished tied for 66th place at 23-over 239 (83-77-79=239).
UA freshman Erica Blasberg was the top individual finisher at five-under 211. She carded 69s in each of the last two rounds.
The Sun Devils will return to action Nov. 1-3 for their fourth and final tournament of the fall season when heading to Wilmington, N.C., for the UNC-Wilmington Landfall Tradition.
Reach the reporter at casey.pritchard@asu.edu.
