CMS Women's Golf Finishes First at Host Invitational

CHINO HILLS, Calif. - The defending national champion Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's golf team earned first place at the five-team CMS Invitational on Saturday and Sunday at Los Serranos North Golf Club, edging out Whittier by four shots over the two-day event.

Freshman Tiffany Hu shot an even-par 72 on Sunday to help the Athenas to the first-place finish, as she came in second overall on the individual leaderboard with a two-day 149. Senior Kelly Ransom was third overall with a 151 (74-77), while sophomore Mira Yoo was one shot behind with a 152 (72-80) after shooting even-par on the opening day.

Vitha Kajal of Whittier won the individual title with a 71-73-144, completing the only round below par in the field on Saturday. 

Hu was steady all day for the Athenas on Sunday, recording 14 pars on 18 holes, while also picking up birdies on the second hole and the 14th. A bogey on 17 prevented her from finishing below par for her round, but she bounced back to par the par-4 18th to complete her 72. 

Yoo was equally steady on Saturday on her way to a 72 with 14 pars. She birdied the first hole, and recovered from bogeys on seven and eight to pick up another birdie on 11. She then closed out with seven straight pars to card a 72. Ransom's 74 on Saturday included 13 pars on a birdie on 18 to come in at just two-over par. 

Kajal birdied 14 and 15 on Sunday to end up with a +1 for the day and an even par 144 for the two-day event. Her efforts gave the Poets a chance to take the team title, but the Athenas held on down the stretch for a four-stroke win. 

The Athenas return to action in one week when they travel to Arizona to compete in the Embry-Riddle Invitational on Oct. 8-9 at Antelope Valley Golf Club.