PULLMAN, Wash. ? Senior Melanie De Leon shot a final-round 74 to win the Inland Northwest Dodge Dealers Invitational, held Monday-Tuesday, Sept. 15-16 at the par 71, 6,051-yard Palouse Ridge Golf Club.
De Leon turned in a two-stroke victory over Washington State’s Jessica Black and finished with a three-round total of one-over 214 (71-69-74). She is the first Wolf Pack women’s golfer to win a tournament since Nicole de Gennaro took home individual medalist honors at the 2006 Wolf Pack Invitational.
Nevada finished in second place at the 11-team tournament at 51-over 903 (305-293-305), which marks the team’s highest finish since winning the Wolf Pack Invitational in 2006. Washington State won its own tournament with a three-round total of 29-over 881 (292-298-291), while Sacramento State (921), Montana (922) and Boise State (929) rounded out the top five teams.
“This is an unbelievable win for Melanie. It will open the floodgates for many more wins. She’s been knocking on the door for a year now,” Nevada Director of Golf Adam Pohll said. “To finish second in our first tournament of the year with two true freshmen, two sophomores and one senior is great. Our coaching staff is extremely excited about what the future holds for this year. We are also proud of both of our true freshmen who were playing in their first college tournament.”
Freshman Jamie Yam carded her best round of the tournament with a two-over 73 on Tuesday and finished in a tie for seventh at 14-over 227 (75-79-73). Sophomore Lauren Hernandez ended up in a tie for 22nd at 20-over 233 despite battling a wrist sprain in the final round (78-71-84), while true freshman Alex Borcherts had the best day of her young career with a five-over 76 on Tuesday and finished in a tie for 24th at 21-over 234 (81-77-76). Sophomore Ana Patricia de la Maza tied for 35th to round out the Wolf Pack lineup (81-76-82=239).
The Wolf Pack will return to action Sept. 22-23, traveling to the Gustina Memorial Classic in Corvallis, Ore. Oregon State will play host to the event at the Trysting Tree Golf Course.