Julia López has made history at the Mississippi State University in a big way. The Andalusian golfer has won this Wednesday at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate, an NCAA tournament that took place at the Long Cove Club in South Carolina. It is the seventh victory of her career with the Bulldogs, an absolute record for her university. She surpasses the six that Kathe Kingston achieved in the first half of the 80s and the five, more recently, by Ally Ewing. Hats off, Julia.
And we say that she has made history in a big way because she has done so after setting a new record in her brilliant amateur career, the umpteenth. She won the Darius Rucker after delivering the best card in the history of the tournament in the final round. Julia scored 64 strokes, seven under par, with eight birdies and one bogey and tied for the lead with Jennifer Cai, Hannah Darling and Farah O’Keefe. We remind you that in the case of a tie in university golf, the victory is shared. Julia started the last day in 24th place with two initial rounds of 67 and 77 strokes and climbed to the first with that sublime round.
López keeps breaking records at Mississippi State University. She has the best stroke average of all time with 70.69, the highest number of rounds under 70 strokes (31), the three lowest rounds ever and ten of the top twenty. The only thing left for her to surpass, and she is close, is the record for the most rounds under par. It is currently held by Ally Ewing, a professional on the LPGA Tour and wife of her coach, with 60, while Julia already has 57.
Julia López, Number 3 in the world, has won this tournament ahead of Number 1, Ingrid Lindblad. We will see if this great result allows her to get closer to the Swede and place herself, for example, in the second position. It is her first victory this season, after a second place and a third in the six tournaments she has played in the NCAA.
The Andalusian golfer is the standard-bearer of an extraordinary week for Spanish university golfers in the NCAA. The most outstanding results have been the following:
– Paula Martín has been third in the Juli Inkster Meadow Club in California, at the Meadow Club. The Madrid native from Stanford shot six under par with two rounds of 71 and 67 strokes. Her tournament was reduced to two rounds due to bad weather. It is her sixth tournament this season with an individual result and, although she has not yet achieved any victories, her worst result has been a seventh. Impressive. Her stroke average is 70.13 strokes. Sensational.
– Albert Boneta has been fifth in the R.E.L. Invitational presented by Lamkin Golf Grips held at the San Diego Country Club, California. The Catalan golfer from New Mexico signed three rounds of 67, 71 and 71 strokes for a total of seven under par. It is his second top 5 of the season and the fifth top 10, more than any other player on his team.
– Marta Pérez has been sixth in the River Landing Classic, played in North Carolina. The Madrid golfer from East Carolina has delivered three cards of 72, 73 and 75 strokes. It is her first top 10 of the year.
– Violeta Fernández-Tagle has been seventh in the Momentum Transportation UNF Colegiate held at the Jacksonville Golf Club in Florida. The Andalusian player from El Puerto de Santa María, belonging to the University of Chattanooga, has signed three rounds of 72, 70 and 69 strokes. It is her sixth tournament of the season and her third top 10. She also has a top 5.
In this same tournament, Daniela Campillo finished twelfth with the second best card of the last day (67 strokes). The Barcelona golfer from the University of Louisiana Monroe shot 74, 73 and 67 strokes.
– Paula Francisco has finished eighth in the Gators Invitational, a tournament played on the Mark Bostick course at the University of Florida. The Madrid native has signed three rounds of 70 strokes, maximum consistency. It is her first top 10 in her fifth appearance this season with the University of Florida, the Gators.
– Josele Ballester has signed a valuable tenth position in the Cabo Collegiate Invitational, a tournament held at the Twin Dolphin Club in Mexico and which ended with the victory of Michael Thorbjornsen. Josele has gone from more to less in the championship, with three cards of 68, 70 and 72 strokes. It is Josele’s third top 10 this season in eight tournaments. His worst position has been a 30th, which indicates the tremendous consistency of the golfer from Castellón in recent months, despite the fact that victory is resisting him. Of the 22 rounds he has played, 14 have been at par or better.
