T-Bird (W-Golf) Ends Fall Campaign Ranked No. 3

The NMJC women's golf team finished the fall season with a second-place performance at the Paul Chavez Invitational on Friday, Nov. 1.

The Thunderbirds shot 308-314 to finish 46-over for the tournament which was second place to Odessa College's 21-over performance. 

The Thunderbirds trailed by seven shots following the first round of action. Odessa shot the round of the tournament at 8-over during the final round to outpace the T-Birds by 18 strokes on the final day. NMJC finished the tournament 22 shots in front of Blinn College and 26 shots better than McLennan CC.

Nanami Hayakawa sat in second place at 2-over par following her first-round 74. The sophomore was five shots behind Round 1 leader Napajira Nami Luesattha of Odessa College. A second-round 78 put Hayakawa in a tie for third place at 8-over par. 

Olivia Heard had her best tournament of the season this week in Odessa, Texas. The Kent, England native shot an 8-over 80 in Round 1 but rebounded in her final round with an even-par 72 to finish T-3 with her teammate Hayakawa. The round could've been even better as Heard was 2-under with three holes to play before she gave back two strokes on the closing holes.  

Giuliana Frutos shot 77-82 over the course of two rounds to finish T-10 at 15-over par. This is the freshman's third top-10 finish of the season. Wawa Booncharn was solid on Day 1 as she fired a 5-over 77. Day 2 was another story. Booncharn could not get it rolling during a final round that featured seven bogeys, two triples, a double, and just one birdie. Booncharn would shoot 86 and finish the tournament T-15 at 19-over par.

Sophomore Hinano Kishida was the final member of the team score and unfortunately luck was not on her side. Kishida received a DQ in the first round for playing a ball after the allotted time. In the second round, Kishida shot a 10-over 82 which was a counting score.  

Sophomore Kyleigh McGowen was just behind Frutos with a T-12 finish as an individual. McGowen struggled in her opening round shooting a 14-over 86. She responded well in Round 2 with a 4-over 76 to post 18-over par. 

Freshman Stefany Crozier placed T-15 in Odessa as an individual at 19-over with rounds of 80-83. Jordyn Cruz was one shot behind Crozier at 20-over for the tournament. Cruz placed T-18 at 20-over after shooting 81-83 at Odessa Country Club (Old Course). Ashleigh Johnson was the last T-Bird placing wise this week. Johnson shot a 12-over 84 opening round but couldn't replicate her first round. The Reedsburg, Wis. native struggled in Round 2 on her way to a 23-over 95 to place T-29 at 35-over.

The Thunderbirds ended the fall ranked as the No. 3 team in the country behind No. 2 Daytona State and No. 1 Odessa College. NMJC will begin the 2024-25 season in Corpus Christi, Texas Feb. 17-18 at the 2025 Islander Classic.