Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
BYU Dixie Classic Day 2
Rams post season-best finish at BYU Dixie Classic
3/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
March 25, 2009
Complete Results in PDF Format 
By Danny Mattie
Athletic Media Relations
ST. GEORGE, Utah – Junior Natalie Stone and freshman Brianna Espinoza each posted career-best finishes on Wednesday, grabbing a share of fourth and finishing seventh, respectively, to lead the Colorado State women’s golf team to a season-best second-place finish at the BYU Dixie Classic at La Entrada at Snow Canyon Golf Course.
The Rams closed the tournament with their best team round, a 4-over 292, thanks to strong play from the entire lineup, including a trio of Rams with previous experience on the course
“Stefanie (Ferguson), Kasey (Claussen) and Natalie really came through in the clutch today,” said Hopkins’ of the performance of the Rams’ upperclassmen.
Stone, a native of Bountiful, Utah, entered today’s final round tied for seventh, and used a closing 74 to finish with a 7-over 223 and climb into a career-best tie for fourth place. It marked Stone’s career-best finish, eclipsing her 13th place finish last fall at the Heather Farr/CU Memorial.
“It was great for Natalie to come out and play so well after competing as an individual last week,” added Hopkins.
Espinoza also posted a career-best finish, placing seventh overall with a 9-over 225 after shaving six strokes from her first and second rounds and leading the Rams with a 1-under 71 in the third round.
“It was huge for Brianna to shoot as well as she did today,” said Hopkins. “She played solid today and was right on target the entire round.”
Classmate Melissa Martin narrowly missed a top-10 finish of her own, closing the tournament with an 11-over 227 in a tie for 11th place, one stroke ahead of junior Kasey Claussen who finished tied for 13th.
Senior Stefanie Ferguson, also finished the tournament on a high note. After posting back-to-back rounds of 79 on Tuesday, Ferguson carded an even-par 72 to finish tied for 18th with a 14-over 230.
“Stef is in a routine where she always plays her best round to close a tournament,” said Hopkins. “She has really come through for the team.”
Sophomore Cecilia Edlund, competing as an individual, fired a final round of 74 to tie for 41st with a three-round total of 242 (+26).
The No. 15-ranked University of Denver (+6) captured the team title, while No. 26 Florida (+51) and No. 37 Washington (+60) finished third and fourth, respectively. San Diego State (+68) rounded out the top five.
“We are peaking at the right time,” added Hopkins. “Te beat really good teams like Florida and Washington is a big boost for us as we prepare for this weekend.”
The Rams begin competition Saturday in Tucson, Ariz., at the 11th annual Mountain View Collegiate.
| 2 | Colorado State | 299-308-292--899 |
| T4 | Natalie Stone | 74-75-74--223 |
| 7 | Brianna Espionza | 77-77-71--225 |
| T11 | Melissa Martin | 72-79-76--227 |
| T13 | Kasey Claussen | 76-77-75--228 |
| T18 | Stefanie Ferguson | 79-79-72--230 |
| T41 | *Cecilia Edlund | 79-89-74--242 |
Players Mentioned
