Records are made to be broken; not shattered. But the Point Loma women’s golf team did not seem to heed history as they rewrote all the PLNU team records by wide margins over the two-day Western New Mexico Invitational (Sept. 21-22).
The Sea Lions registered a team score of 586 (+10) to break the previous school-record by 14 strokes. To achieve this feat, Point Loma played consistent throughout the tournament, posting a 293 (+5) in each round. That score bested the previous school-records of low single-round score (300, +12) and low two-round score (600, +24), both of which were set last season at the WNMU Invitational.
“It is going to be a great year and we still have progress ahead,” said Point Loma’s first-year head coach Noel Allen. “To shatter a school-record is unheard of and speaks volumes to the type of team we have.”
Mariah Fuller was the top finisher for PLNU as she tied for 10th at the tournament with a 144 (E). She shot a 73 (+1) on day one and a 71 (-1) on day two which included her hole-in-one attempt striking the pin as she settled for birdie. She led the Sea Lions at the WNMU Invite with six birdies.
Haley Fuller and Michelle Picca both tied for 22nd place with 3-over, 147s. Picca led the Sea Lions on day one with a 72 (E), while Fuller posted a 75 (+3). Those two student-athletes flipped scores on day two and finished the tournament tied. Samantha Stockton was one stroke back of Picca and H. Fuller with a 4-over, 148. Rima Antous was the fifth finisher for PLNU with a career-best 151 (+7)
“Michelle really set the pace for us yesterday and everyone followed,” Allen explained. “It was a very competitive field and everyone played phenomenally.”
As a team, Point Loma placed sixth in its opening tournament of the year. The Sea Lions finished ahead of fellow PacWest members Dixie State (t-8th), Dominican (t-8th) and Holy Names (19th).
The only PacWest squad PLNU finished behind was California Baptist which won the tournament with a 9-under, 567. All four of their qualifying scorers finished in the top 10. Caroline Ordian, of the University of Redlands, won the tournament with an 8-under, 136.
The Sea Lions’ next tournament will be the Dixie State Invitational on Oct. 5-6.