2023-09-22 22:12:47
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MALIBU, Calif. — After busting out of the starting gates with a dominant team win at the Branch Law Firm Dick McGuire Invitational last week, the #9 Pepperdine women’s golf team looks to continue the fall campaign at the Golfweek Red Sky Classic – a tournament the Waves won last season.
EVENT INFO — The tournament will be held at the par-72, 6,305-yard Red Sky Golf Club, located in Wolcott, Colo. There will be a single round each day between Monday and Wednesday (Sept. 25-27). Teams will tee off at 10 a.m. on Monday and Tuesday and 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday. Live scoring will be available via Golfstat.
FIELD — In addition to Pepperdine, the 16-team field will include Mercer, Little Rock, South Dakota State, New Mexico State, East Tennessee State, Central Arkansas, Kennesaw State, Ball State, High Point, UNCG, Wofford, Arkansas State, Boise State, Murray State and Illinois-Chicago.
WAVES AT RED SKY — Pepperdine has competed at Golfweek’s Red Sky Classic 13 times, attending virtually every tournament held since 2009, with a break for the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The Waves have won or placed second at the tournament nine times, with first place finishes in 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014 and last season in 2022. There have been three winners for Pepperdine, Grace Na (2013), Marissa Chow (2014) and Lion Higo (2022).
PEPPERDINE LINEUP — The Waves’ lineup consists of junior Lauren Gomez (Murrieta, Calif.), seniors Kaleiya Romero (San Jose, Calif.) and Lion Higo (Gold Coast, Australia), sophomore Jeneth Wong (Melbourne, Australia) and junior KaYee Kwok (Tianjin, China). Freshman Helen Chu (Guangzhou, China) will also compete as an individual.
RANKINGS — Pepperdine is ranked #9 in Golfweek’s coaches poll this week. In the Golfweek individual rankings – with statistical information from last season – Lion Higo ranks #27, Jeneth Wong is #33 and Kaleiya Romero is #133. Wong is also #63 in WAGR.
LAST WEEK AT DICK MCGUIRE — Pepperdine was ready to kick things off on a high note last week, putting in a dominating performance to take first place at the Branch Law Firm Dick McGuire Invitational. The Waves shot 14-under 850 (292-270-288) for the title, which currently ranks seventh in the Pepperdine women’s golf record books for lowest 54-hole score. The Waves highlighted the tournament with an 18-under 270 in the second round, tying the program record for lowest-ever 18-hole score. The 14-under following 36-holes also ranks third in the record books.
Lauren Gomez got off to a good start, tying for third with a score of 208. Her 6-under 66 in the second round was a career-high and it was the third time in her career that she shot for par in all three rounds of a single tournament. Kaleiya Romero and Lion Higo also finished in the top-10, with Romero finishing tied for eighth with a 213 and Higo finishing tied for 10th with a 214.
AWARDS THIS SEASON — Senior Lion Higo and sophomore Jeneath Wong both received Golfweek Preseason All-American honors at the beginning of the fall season.
ROSTER — The Waves return seven of nine players, four of which saw action in the NCAA Finals last season. This fall, Pepperdine has eight players (two seniors, three juniors, two sophomores and one freshman).
RECORD BOOK WATCH — Pepperdine has already made an impact on the program’s records this season, as the Waves tied the program record in the first tournament of the season following shooting an 18-under in the second round of the Dick McGuire Invitational. The squad’s 14-under through 36 holes also ranks third in the all-time lists.
Lion Higo sits atop the single-season records having amassed an impressive 71.35 scoring average last season, topping Grace Na who had tabbed a 71.73 during the 2013-14 season. She also ranked first outright following having amassed 18 below-par rounds and is tied for the top spot with 11 top-20 finishes in a single season. Higo and Lauren Gomez currently rank fifth and seventh respectively in the program’s career scoring average lists with a 73.54 and 73.75 scoring average respectively.
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