Filipino-American Brianna Navarrosa birdied the ninth, her final hole, to share third place at the close of the Jackson T. Stephens Cup at the Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Florida Tuesday.
The 19-year-old daughter of former Filipino tennis champion Ringo Navarrosa closed with even-par 72 to complete 54 holes on 5-under 211, five shots behind Rachel Kuehn of Wake Forest.
The University of Southern California star was tied with Rachel Heck of Stanford, Hannah Darling of South Carolina and Carolina Lopez-Chacarra of Wake Forest.
Starting on 10, Navarrosa birdied 13, 14 and 3 to counter a double bogey on the par-5 15th hole. She slipped back with bogeys on 4 and 6 before the birdie finish.
The two-day tournament drew some of college’s top players, including world No. 1 Rose Zhang who settled for joint 12th on 2-under 214.
Kuehn had four birdies against two bogeys to shoot a 70 and defeated Carla Tejedo Mulet of Louisiana State University by three shots. Mulet carded a second-straight 68.
Wake Forest went on to win the team event on 19-under 845, six shots ahead of fancied Stanford. Duke took third on 11-under while South Carolina was fourth on 7-under.
Fortuna places 34th
Over in Medinah, Illinois, Mikhaela Fortuna settled for 34th place after a closing one-over-par 73 in the Illini Women’s Invitational at the Medinah Golf Club.
The University of Oklahoma standout made two birdies against three bogeys for a 54-hole total of 2-under 214, 14 shots behind winner Jenny Bae of Georgia who shot a 66.
Crystal Wang of Illinois was second on 14-under after a 68 while Maddison Hinson-Tolchard grabbed third on 12-under following a 69.
Kentucky won the team event on 34-under 830, five shots ahead of Auburn.
San Jose State took third on 28-under.
Magcalayo slumps
Meanwhile, a nightmarish start of six bogeys and a triple bogey led Jolo Magcalayo to a closing 10-over-par 82 in the Alister Mackenzie Invitational at the Sonoma Golf Club in Sonoma, California.
The 19-year-old Filipino playing for Santa Clara University began his round at the back with five straight bogeys before dropping three shots on 15. He took another bogey on 16 to reach the turn on 9-over.
His misfortune continued in the homeward trip, picking up a bogey on 3 and double bogey on 4 before finishing with two birdies in the last five holes.
Magcalayo ended up in the bottom of the standings on 18-over 234, 33 shots behind champion Ian Gilligan of Long Beach State.
Sampson Zheng of California placed second on 10-under while Caleb Shetler of San Jose State and Antoine Sale of Minnesota shared third on 8-under.
Gao struggles
Weiwei Gao struggled at the start of the second stage of the Korn Ferry Tour Q-School at the UNM Championship Course in Albuquerque, New Mexico Tuesday.
Gao, the lone Filipino gunning for a spot in the second-tier pro tour, shot two three-over-par 74, nine shots off the pace set by Emilio Gonzalez.
He reached the turn on two-over after bogeys on 4 and 6. He bogeyed 10, made back-to-back birdies from 13 before throwing them away with a double bogey on 17.
Only the top 17 players will advance to the final stage in December.
Gao is four shots off the current magic number.
