Cowgirls Place Eighth at Florida International Invite

* University of Wyoming press release

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla., -- The Wyoming Cowgirl golf team shot an outstanding final round of 290 (+2) on Monday at the Pat Bradley Invitational in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.

UW’s final round was the third best of the day behind only first-place Miami’s 276 (-12) and second-place Western Kentucky’s 279 (-9). With their exceptional final round, Wyoming moved up three places to finish eighth in the 12-team field.

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Cowgirl Morgan Ryan fired a final round of 71 (-1) to move up 10 spots to tie for 18th place. Teammate Kyla Wilde shot a 70 (-2) on Monday to move up 15 places to tie for 21st place.

The Cowgirls improved dramatically on each successive day of the three-day event. UW opened Saturday’s first round with a 308 (+20), lowered its team score by nine strokes to 299 (+11) on Sunday and then lowered its score by another nine strokes on Monday, posting its 290 (+2). Wyoming’s movement of three places up the standings on Monday was the biggest move of any team in the final round.

“Today was awesome,” said Josey Stender, University of Wyoming Head Women’s Golf Coach! “We competed so confidently and played with much more patience.

“I have been very happy with the amount of growth, mental fortitude and balance this team has shown this fall. Everyone of these Cowgirls has contributed in each event.

“We are looking forward to a productive offseason, getting healthy and finishing strong in the classroom.”

Ryan entered the final round tied for 28th place, but her final round vaulted her up into 18th place. Ryan posted two sub-par rounds during the tournament. She started with a 79 (+7) on Saturday, but then followed that up with a 70 (-2) on Sunday and a 71 (-1) in the final round. Ryan’s final round was very consistent as she had three birdies, 13 pars and only two bogeys.

Wilde played one of her best tournaments, shooting an opening round of 71 (-1), followed by an 80 (+8) and then bounced back with her low round of 70 (-2) to tie for 21st. In her final round, Wilde played extremely well, recording five birdies, 10 pars and only three bogeys.

Two other Cowgirls shot their low rounds of the tournament on Monday. Jadan Gonzalez shot a 75 (+3) and tied for 46th place. Tomine Bjerkelo posted a 74 (+2) to tie with teammate Samantha Spielman for 54th. UW’s Sophie Spiva played as an individual and also posted her lowest round of the tournament with a 76 (+4) on Monday to finish 67th.

Miami held a 20-stroke lead over second-place Western Kentucky entering Monday’s final round. The Hurricanes finished with a 23-stroke win over the Hilltoppers. Miami finished at 830 (-34), while Western Kentucky came in second at 853 (-11).

The individual tournament leader entering Monday was Barbora Bujakova of Miami. She led two of her teammates, Sara Byrne and Olivia Gronborg, by four strokes. But Byrne and Gronborg each fired final rounds of 65 (-7) on Monday to tie for medalist honors with 54-hole totals of 203 (-13). Bujakova shot a final round of 72 (Even) to finish third at 206 (-10).

The Pat Bradley Invitational was hosted by Florida International University (FIU) at the Cypress Links Course at Lake Ranch Golf & Country Club in Lakewood Ranch, Fla. The course measured 6,234 yards and played to a par of 72.

The tournament concluded the fall portion of Wyoming’s 2023-24 women’s golf schedule. The Cowgirls will return to action on Monday-Wednesday, Feb. 12-14 when they co-host the Mountain Match Play Classic with Boise State in Palm Desert, Calif.

Team Standings

1. Miami 278-276-276=830 (-34)

2. Western Kentucky 289-285-279=853 (-11)

3. Florida Gulf Coast 287-303-292=882 (+18)

4. Seminole State 291-300-296=887 (+23)

5. Florida International 287-302-300=889 (+25)

6. Cincinnati 299-297-295=891 (+27)

7. Daytona State College 284-298-313=895 (+31)

8. Wyoming 308-299-290=897 (+33)

9. Stetson 294-307-298=899 (+35)

10. South Dakota 300-304-297=901 (+37)

11. Northern Illinois 295-304-305=904 (+40)

12. South Alabama 308-312-303=923 (+59)

Wyoming Cowgirls

T18 Morgan Ryan 79-70-71=220 (+4)

T21 Kyla Wilde 71-80-70=221 (+5)

T46 Jadan Gonzalez 77-77-75=229 (+13)

T54 Samantha Spielman 81-74-78=233 (+17)

T54 Tomine Bjerkelo 81-78-74=233 (+17)

Cowgirls Playing as Individuals

67 Sophie Spiva 83-81-76=240 (+24)

From Bison to Triceratops - All of Wyoming's Official Things

Every state in our nation has chosen things that represent the state in one way or another to be official state things. Like a flower, or animal. Wyoming is no different.

The Equality State, or the Cowboy State, depending on which state slogan you want to go with, has a state flower. But did you know we also have a state tree and a state fish? Yes, we even have a state code.

To be an official thing, a member of the state legislature must write and submit a bill to the legislature declaring that a thing will be the official state thing. Then the legislature votes to pass the bill, or not, if it passes, the governor signs the bill into law and we have a new official state thing.

Here is what we have so far, all of Wyoming's official things. Now you can win big on Wyo Trivia Night if that's a thing that exists.

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns

- From Bison to Triceratops - All of Wyoming's Official Things

Filed Under: Wyoming golf

Categories: Other Sports