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Wildcat golf team tops No. 1 Duke

The Arizona women's golf team closed out its fall season with a victory at the Golf World Invitational this weekend.

UA was led by senior Jenna Daniels, who won the individual title over Duke's Beth Bauer in a playoff. Daniels sank a birdie on the first hole to capture the individual crown with a 7-under-par 209.

Daniels, though, was more impressed with the overall win than her own.

"I was so happy that our team had won by a stroke, I had played really well, Beth Bauer had played really well," she said. "It's bad for me to say I didn't care, because I obviously cared. Winning the playoff was kind of a bonus. I was so happy my team had won. It was just an addition."

Daniels' coach still complimented her individual victory.

"Anytime you win against the competition she faced, it's impressive," UA head coach Todd McCorkle said. "This is probably the most solid tournament Jenna's played since I've coached her. She's just a tremendously hard worker with a desire that carries her forward."

Daniels' victory came just a year after the entire Wildcat team had found itself in that position in the same tournament.

"It's kind of funny, our team went in a playoff at that same tournament last year," she said. "All five of us teed off against USC. It was probably more fun with everyone out there instead of being by myself."

As a team, the No. 2-ranked Wildcats beat the No. 1-ranked Blue Devils by one stroke, 875 to 876.

"I think all along as a team we've felt we're the best in the country," McCorkle said. "Duke, having won the national championship last year, felt that way also. It's not so much as going head-to-head with Duke as winning a very big tournament. Beating Duke is great. I don't like to think of focusing on one team rather than on beating 11 of the best teams in the country."

McCorkle credited a "total team effort" as the key to the Wildcats' victory, as did Daniels.

"It was a team effort. Anytime you beat the No. 1 and No. 3 (Southern Cal) and No. 4 (Arizona State) and No. 5 (Georgia) teams in the country it's a big win. This field had the 12 top teams in the country. Everyone finished pretty strong."

Senior Jill Gomric finished tied for sixth (3-over-par 219), sophomore Cristina Baena tied for 11th (5-over-par 221), freshman Julia Kraschinski was 20th (10-over-par 226) and junior Christina Monteiro tied for 40th (20-over-par 236).

"It's a big win because it's our last tournament of the fall," McCorkle said. "It gives us three months to reflect on some very good feelings."

Arizona doesn't play again until the Regional Challenge Feb. 2 in Palos Verdes, Calif., but Daniels said she thinks the win over Duke will help the team a lot going into the spring stretch run.

"Yeah, so hopefully we'll move up to No. 1," she said. "We're going to have the confidence coming back into the spring season. We've got the edge I think."