PALM DESERT, Calif. – The University of Hawai’i women’s golf team showed improvement on the course Sunday, climbing three spots on the leaderboard at the Alice and John Wallace Classic. The Rainbow Wahine are now in 13th place after a second-round score of 298 at the Monterey Country Club, bringing their two-day total to 608.
While Hawai’i made gains, the competition remains fierce. No. 2 USC continues to dominate the tournament, extending their lead to 24 strokes with a total score of 553. No. 11 UCLA holds second place at 577, followed by No. 33 Eastern Michigan (579) and No. 10 Vanderbilt (581), according to results reported by BVMSports.com.
Leading the way for the Rainbow Wahine was Jasmine Wong, who carded an even-par 71 on Sunday. She is currently tied for 37th place with a two-day total of 149 (+7). Maline Kraus followed with a consistent performance, posting a 76 for the second consecutive day, placing her in a tie for 52nd at 151 (+10). Chloe Ku as well contributed a strong round of 73, moving into a tie for 58th place at 152 (+11).
Rounding out the Hawai’i team are Emiko Sverduk and Sofina Firouzi, both tied for 76th place at 155 (+14) after each shooting a 78 in the second round. Kaydence Kim, competing as an individual, is in 90th place with a score of 162 (+14) after a round of 82.
USC’s Park Maintains Lead
The individual competition is led by USC’s Catherine Park, who maintains her first-place position with a 36-hole score of 5-under 137. She holds a two-stroke advantage over teammate Kylie Chong, who sits at 3-under 139, as detailed in a report from USC Athletics. Three Trojans are currently in the top five and four are in the top ten, showcasing USC’s strength in the tournament.
Here’s a look at the Rainbow Wahine’s standings:
- 13. Hawai’i – 298=608 (+40)
- T-37. Jasmine Wong – 71=149 (+7)
- T-52. Maline Kraus – 76=152 (+10)
- T-58. Chloe Ku – 73=153 (+11)
- T-76. Emiko Sverduk – 78=156 (+14)
- T-76. Sofina Firouzi – 78=156 (+14)
The final round of the Alice and John Wallace Classic is scheduled for Monday, beginning with an 8:00 a.m. PT shotgun start. The Rainbow Wahine will look to continue their upward momentum and finish the tournament strong against a highly competitive field. Fans can follow the action and find updated scores on the University of Hawai’i Athletics website.
The tournament, held at the Monterey Country Club in Palm Desert, California, features several nationally ranked teams, including USC, currently ranked No. 2. The final round promises to be an exciting conclusion to a challenging event for the University of Hawai’i women’s golf team.
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