With the Kaua‘i Junior Golf program about to start its 2005 season, it’s quite a coincidence that an alum of the prestigious organization is about to finish up her senior campaign in spectacular fashion. Lawa‘i’s Rachel Kyono, the daughter of
With the Kaua‘i Junior Golf program about to start its 2005 season, it’s quite a coincidence that an alum of the prestigious organization is about to finish up her senior campaign in spectacular fashion.
Lawa‘i’s Rachel Kyono, the daughter of Russell and Tisha Kyono, is the leader of the #7 ranked Pepperdine women’s golf team.
Her scoring average of 73.33 is first on the team and her low round of 67 is also the team’s lowest mark.
Playing in arguably the strongest field outside of the NCAA Champion-ships, Pepperdine captured the prestigious Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge for the second time in the last three years Wednesday afternoon at the par-71, 5,912-yard Palos Verdes Country Club in Palos Verdes.
Led by Kyono’s 3-over par 74, the Waves shot a final round score of 304 to finish the tournament with a 54-hole score 896 and register a two-shot victory over defending national champion and second-ranked UCLA. The Bruins totaled a score 898 while top-ranked Duke placed third, four shots back at 900.
Florida (904) placed fourth while Washington made a late charge shooting the low round of the day with a 294 to place fifth with score of 906.
The field included 13 teams that are currently ranked in the Top 30 by Golfweek. “This was a great win and a nice way to start the spring schedule,” head coach Laurie Gibbs said. “It was a total team effort with everyone throughout the line-up contributing and Rachel (Kyono) came up with a big round today under difficult playing conditions.
“Winning a tournament with as strong of a field that we competed against over the last three days gives us a lot of confidence as we continue through the season,” Gibbs added.
Pepperdine sophomore Eileen Vargas tied UCLA’s Melissa Martin and Susie Matthews for sixth place with a nine-over par total of 222.
Junior All-American Carolina Llano tied for 12th while Kyono tied for 15th and junior Courtney Clark was among a group of six players who tied for 30th.
Freshman Stephanie Gelleni placed 60th while playing as an individual.
Pepperdine previously captured the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge in 2003 beginning a stretch of five straight tournament victories that catapulted the Waves to a No. 1 national ranking.
Pepperdine is next in action when it travels to Tucson, Arizona, to compete in the Arizona Wildcat Invitational beginning February 21 at the Arizona National Golf Club.
Portions of this article were taken from Pepperdine’s website: http://pepperdinesports.collegesports.com/sports/w-golf.
