The ASU women’s golf team opened the 2012 season with a bang by winning the Dale McNamara Invitational in Tulsa, Okla.
No. 4 ASU shot a two-over 866, finishing three strokes ahead of No. 9 Florida, giving ASU its first tournament victory since March 2011.
Last season the Sun Devils were strikingly close to victory, but finished second on three different occasions and third in two others.
“(Winning) was one of the focuses that the girls came up with (in the offseason),” coach Melissa Luellen said. “They really wanted to win this year. It was a very, very solid team win and (we) beat a good Florida team that just won a big tournament last week.
ASU stormed out to an early lead during the first round, firing a round of eight-under. Sophomore Noemi Jimenez paved the way for ASU during the first round, carding six birdies to shoot five-under.
Luellen said Jimenez’s approach from off the green was pivotal to set her up for the birdie putts during the first round. But then Jimenez started to feel pressure once the second round of the doubleheader began.
“When you play 36 holes, it’s easy to go around in the second round in the afternoon and remember what you did in the first round, because you just played it,” Luellen said. “She’s like, ‘Oh, I made birdie over here this morning and I made bogey (now), how could I do that?’”
Daniela Ordonez shot one-under during all three rounds. When Ordonez turned in her final scorecard, she was in third place individually, but catapulted into second after Oklahoma State’s Kelsey Vines double-bogeyed her final hole.
“She was just fantastic,” Luellen said. “It’s really hard to shoot under par all three rounds. She has a lot of confidence and trust in her game and her ability.”
Sticking to her team’s offseason promises, Ordonez’s high finish was a rewarding start to begin a promising season.
“I’m very proud of myself,” Ordonez said. “I wouldn’t expect less because I’ve been working really hard during the summer. I’m happy to see that everything that I’ve done has shown up (on the course).
“I cannot wait to play another tournament and keep training and not just be a runner up but to win tournaments.”
Sophomore Laura Blanco was ASU’s second-best finisher. Entering the final round, Blanco and Ordonez were tied, but in the third round Blanco shot two-over to finish sixth overall.
Notes:
Luellen said it was heartwarming to have the tournament named after her mother and to have McNamara witness ASU’s victory.
“My mom was out there watching,” Luellen said. Every time she would come upon one of (our) players they would do something good. I think the girls know how much of a sentimental thing (it was) for my mom to be out there and for us to win.
“(It was a) very special moment and (I am) really glad that my mom could experience it.”
Reach the reporter at Justin.Janssen@asu.edu
