Kiira Riihijarvi Takes Individual Championship at Saint Leo Invite
Becomes first player in program history to win regular season tournament.
DADE CITY, Fla. – The University of Tampa women's golf team placed third overall at the Saint Leo Invitational as sophomore All-American Kiira Riihijarvi added another trophy to her collection with the individual championship.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
UT Finish: 3rd, 595 strokes, +19 (295-300)
Team Champion: Nova Southeastern, 586 strokes
Host: Saint Leo University
Location: Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club | Dade City, Fla.
Total Rounds: 2
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TOP SPARTAN PERFORMERS:
- Kiira Riihijarvi | 1st overall, 140
- Heather Kipniss | 6th overall, 146
- Sofia Cadavid | 28th overall, 154
- Sydney Stengel | 32nd overall, 155
- Jess Wild | 32nd overall, 155
OTHER NOTABLES:
- Riihijarvi played a two-hole playoff with Nova Southeastern's Michelle Ruiz. Each player parred the first hole as Riihijarvi earned the title with a birdie on the following hole as Ruiz shot a par.
- The second-round 69 by Riihijarvi set a new school record as she broke her previous record of 70 from the 2016 NCAA South Regional.
- Finishing -4, this marked the first tournament where Riihijarvi shot below par in both rounds.
- UT's opening round score of 295 on Monday also marked a school record for Missey Jones squad.
- Tampa also set a second-day record with a 300 in Tuesday's round.
- Freshman Sara DeMarco shot a 168.
- Stengel shot a career-best 76 on Tuesday.
- Joining Stengel as individuals, Lauren Fantaroni and Kensi Olson each shot a 175.
- A total of 10 teams competed.
- Joining UT, team champion Nova Southeastern and host Saint Leo (2nd) were fellow Sunshine State Conference opponents Florida Tech (4th), Barry (7th), Palm Beach Atlantic (9th) and Eckerd (10th).
UP NEXT:
Tampa has one tournament remaining in its fall season, which will be the Flagler Fall Slam on October 23-24. The event will be played at St. Augustine's Marsh Creek Country Club.
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