T-Bird (W-Golf) Places 2nd at USW Fall Invitational

The New Mexico Junior College women's golf team finished runner-up at the USW Fall Invitational for the second consecutive year on Wednesday, Sept. 4.

The T-Birds shot 17-over par for a 36-hole total of 593 (294-299) to come up a stroke shy of the Odessa College Wranglers. Odessa earned first place after firing a 16-over 36-hole total of 592. Odessa's Nami Luesattha was 7-under par for the tournament and won by eight strokes.

The Thunderbirds had to squeeze in 36 holes on Wednesday to open the 2024-25 season after a rain-soaked Monday set back the course from the originally scheduled 18 on Tuesday and 18 on Wednesday. 

Wawa Booncharn took care of the 36-hole marathon shooting a 2-over 74 in the opening round. The Bangkok, Thailand native followed up her 2-over round with a second round career-low 1-under 71. The sophomore finished runner-up at 1-over par for the tournament. The second-place finish is Booncharn's highest finish of her career.

Nanami Hayakawa fired back-to-back 2-over 74s to place fifth on Wednesday at 4-over par for the tournament. Olivia Heard was the only other T-Bird to shoot under par at USW Fall Invitational as she matched Booncharn's 1-under 71 in the opening round. The Biddenden, England native had a tough go of it in the second round finishing with a 7-over 79. Heard ended the 36 holes in seventh place at 6-over par. 

Freshman Giuliana Frutos embarked on her first round in a Thunderbird uniform Wednesday morning. Frutos fired a 3-over 75 in Round 1 and a 4-over 76 in Round 2 on her way to placing eighth overall at 7-over par in her first competition with the T-Birds.

Kyleigh McGowen was the fifth and final member of the team score at the invitational. The Thunderbirds are playing 5-count-4 this year, which is the format each team will be under at the national championship in Garden City, Kan. McGowen had an opening-round 77 (+5) and followed up that performance with a 6-over 78 (+6). The Andrews, Texas native shot 11-over for the tournament and finished T-11. 

The T-Birds had six individuals compete at the USW Fall Invitational. Hinano Kishida was the top finisher for the indys placing third in the competition. Kishida shot an even-par 72 in Round 1 and a 2-over 74 to finish at 2-over par for the tournament on Wednesday. Ashleigh Johnson shot a career-low 1-under 71 during her opening 18 this week. Johnson's second round performance was a 78 putting her at 5-over for the invitational and in sixth place.

Stefany Crozier shot a 6-over 78 in the first round and backed the round up with a 5-over 77 in the final round. The Portsmouth, England native came in a tie for 11th after posting 11-over for the tournament. Freshman Jordyn Cruz finished Round 1 with a 6-over 78 and followed up her first round with a 7-over 79 in Round 2. Cruz shot 13-over for the tournament to come in a tie for 14th. 

Kiyonna Matthews went 85-88 in her two rounds on Wednesday to place 23rd and shoot 29-over for the tournament. Zoe Munoz was the last golfer to compete for NMJC at the USW Fall Invitational. Munoz shot 89-90 to come in 26th place at 35-over par. 

The T-Birds take off 12 days before they get back in action at the Waco River Classic on Monday, Sept. 16 at Cottonwood Creek GC. The tournament is a two-day 36-hole event hosted by McLennan College in Waco, Texas.