Heard Wins 1st Tournament, NMJC (W-Golf) Places 1st at Thunderbird Invitational

The NMJC women's golf team won the Thunderbird Invitational by 27 strokes over McLennan Community College Tuesday, Feb. 24 at the par-72 Rockwind Community Links in Hobbs, NM.

Freshman Olivia Heard earned her first collegiate victory after shooting a 2-over (76-70) 36-hole total of 146.  

The T-Birds shot +41 for a two-round total of 617 to defeat Highlanders (+68), and Murray State (+178). The Thunderbird women's golf program obtained their second victory under first-year head coach Kendalyn Ferguson.  

The cumulative two round total of 146 matched Heard's lowest total in college, which she shot at the Westerner Invite Oct. 16-17 on a par-70 course. The Biddenden, England native recorded a career-low round of 70 (-2) in the final round. This was the first time Heard has shot under par in a Thunderbird uniform. 

Heard could've gone even lower if it wasn't for a nasty 10 in Round 1 on the par-5 fourth hole. The freshman's 10 was one of the few blemishes on an otherwise spectacular card that featured four birdies and three bogeys.

Heard's second round was without the big number that took away from her great round a day earlier. She finished with five birdies and three bogeys to post her career-best round of 2-under par. 

Hinano Kishida finished runner-up for the second time this season at 7-over. The freshman's first runner-up finish was in the fall at the Westerner Invite. Kishida was consistent this week with scores of 76-75 to shoot a 36-hole total of 151 for the tournament. 

Nanami Hayakawa came in a tie for sixth place at 15-over with rounds of 76-83. The freshman posted a two-round finish of 159. Hayakawa has come inside the top-10 in all but one tournament this year. 

The first round at Rockwind featured the T-Birds top-3 all shooting a 4-over 76.

Wawa Booncharn had a tough go in Round 1 with an opening 85 (+13) but turned it around in Round 2 to shoot an ever popular 4-over 76. The freshman tied for ninth with a 17-over par two-round total of 161.

Talyssa Griner rounded out the team score with a 16th place finish. The Monahans, Texas native struggled to get it rolling this week at 39-over par (91-92).

Moving on to the individuals at the Thunderbird Invitational. NMJC entered four individuals this week. 

Ashleigh Johnson was the top performer with a 17-over tie for ninth place. The freshman posted rounds of 79-82 for a total of 161.  

Kyleigh McGowen finished in 11th after firing rounds of 84-80 to shoot a 20-over 164. Gabrielle Perez was 32-over (91-85) in the 36 holes and placed 13th.  Kiyonna Matthews was one spot behind in 14th with rounds of 90-91 to shoot 37-over par. 

The T-Birds next tournament is the Tanklogix Intercollegiate hosted by Midland College on March 12-13 at Ranchland Hills Golf Club in Midland, Texas.