By
Caitlin Dahill
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Ochoa claims individual title
The rivalry between Arizona and Duke for the Golf World Invitational title this past weekend did not live up to both schools' expectations.
In fact, neither team managed to pull out a win. Instead, the Invitational was won by No. 7 Auburn, which finished the tournament with a team score of 9-over par 873.
No. 2 Duke, which led the first two rounds, finished second overall and five strokes behind Tigers.
No. 1 Arizona closed the weekend in a disappointing ninth place with a team score of 24-over-par.
The nation's top-ranked player, UA freshman Lorena Ochoa, claimed individual medalist honors with a first-place finish.
"Lorena was the bright spot of the weekend," UA head coach Greg Allen said.
Although the conditions on the Arthur Hills Course at Palmetto Hall Plantation on Hilton Head Island, S.C. were tough, Ochoa said she felt "comfortable with the course."
Ochoa shot a four-under-par 68, on Friday and five-under-par 71 on Saturday.
Leading all golfers into the final round, Ochoa made a double-bogey on her final hole Sunday and nearly lost the tournament.
"I thought I lost the tournament," Ochoa said. "I felt bad and disappointed for (the) double bogey."
In fact, Ochoa didn't lose but instead finished tied for first with Katherine Hull of Pepperdine.
Ochoa managed to defeat Hull in her first collegiate playoff, a one-hole tie-breaker.
This past weekend's individual win was Ochoa's second of the season. She also placed first at the Comcast/Dick McGuire Invitational on Sept. 23. In her other two tournaments this year, she came in second at the Stanford/Pepsi Invitational and tied for ninth at the NCAA Fall Preview.
Although the team did not perform as well as expected this past weekend, they remained positive going into the final round.
"There is nothing to hang our heads about," Allen said. "We need to head back out next weekend."
The Wildcats will spend the week preparing for the Rolex Match Play Championships in Estero, Fla. this weekend.
