SANTA ANA, Calif.- Marijosse Navarro notched a par on the fifth playoff hole to win the individual title at the UC Irvine Invitational, marking the second straight tournament that a member of the No. 15 Texas A&M women’s golf team won in a playoff. Navarro shot 211 (-5) for the tournament and shot a final round 71 (-1) at Santa Ana Country Club.
The victory for Navarro comes with a sponsor’s exemption into the LPGA’s Kia Classic in Carlsbad, California, which runs from March 23-29. Navarro forced the playoff with Southern Cal’s Gabriella Then by birding the 54th and final hole of the regular tournament.
“Marijosse played like a champ today,” said Texas A&M women’s golf coach Trelle McCombs. “She was steady all day long, and her birdie on the 54th hole was awesome.”
“The win qualifies her for the LPGA Kia Classic next month, which is a greatprivilege for her,” added McCombs.
The Aggies finished third in the 13-team field with a three-round total of 870 (+6) on the par 72, 5,903 yard course. A&M shot a final round 292 (+4), and finished behind No. 4 Washington (854/-10) and No. 2 Southern Cal (865/+1) in the tournament standings.
Maddie Szeryk shot 217 (+1) for the tournament, posting a 75 (+3) in the tournament’s third and final round. Bianca Fabrizio, who won the individual title in a playoff in the Aggies’ last tournament, had the Aggies’ low round of the day, shooting a 69 (-3) to finish the tournament in a tie for 18th with a 218 (+2).
Thanya Pattamakijsakul finished in a tie for 36th with a three-round total of 226 (+10). Andrea Jonama shot a 77 (+5) on Tuesday to finish in a tie for 51st with a 230 (+14).
The Aggies return to action from Mar. 10-11 at the Dr Donnis Thompson Invitational in Kane’ohe, Hawai’i.