Lexi Tuinstra Places Third to Pace SMCC Women's Golf at Mesa Fall Invitational

PHOENIX ---

Freshman Lexi Tuinstra finished third at +18 (162) and posted a 13-stroke improvement in her second round to pace the South Mountain Community College women's golf team at the Mesa Fall Invitational on Nov. 11-12 at Dobson Ranch Golf Course in Mesa, Ariz. Freshman Jaycee Garcia placed fifth at +29 (173), freshman Molly McDonald was sixth at +30 (174), and freshman Elaina Hales was seventh at +35 (179) as the Cougars placed second as a team. 

Tuinstra posted seven pars in her first round to finish at 15-over 87. In her second round, she recorded nine more pars and birdied three holes: the par-three No. 2, the par-five No. 5, and the par-five No. 13. She finished the round at three-over 75, moving up two spots on the final leaderboard to place third. 

Garcia recorded seven pars in her first round en route to a 17-over 89, and she improved to a 12-over 84 in her second round behind eight pars. She moved up one spot on the final leaderboard to finish fifth. 

McDonald opened with a 12-over 84 that featured eight pars, including a stretch of five straight between holes nine and 13. In her second round, McDonald posted four more pars to card an 18-over 90 and finish sixth.

Hales was seventh with scores of 21-over 93 and 14-over 86. She had five pars in her first round and added seven more in her second round. 

Freshman Madilyn Hongell-Jimenez finished ninth with two rounds of 21-over 93 to finish at +42 (186). She birdied the par-five No. 13 and added four pars in her first round, and posted a birdie on the par-three No. 17 and two pars in her second round. 

Freshman Mya Foord tied for 19th at +48 (192) with rounds of 21-over 93 and 27-over 99. She had three pars in each of her rounds. 

The Cougars finished second at +112 (688), 32 strokes behind first-place Mesa CC.