Leina resets RMAC record anew

Leina Kim continues to reap honors for the Colorado State University-Pueblo ThunderWolves after topping yesterday’s Mustang Women’s Fall Intercollegiate at the Coldwater Golf Club in Phoenix, Ariz. (CSU-Pueblo)

It was only a week ago that Kim made headlines in the 2014 RMAC season after shattering her own scoring record. And the 22-year-old did it again.

Kim, according to the Colorado State University-Pueblo ThunderWolves website, fired a closing 5-under 67 to rule the Western New Mexico University-sponsored Mustang Women’s Fall Intercollegiate on Tuesday at the Coldwater Golf Club in Phoenix, Ariz.

The Saipan native tallied a 36-hole score of 11-under 133 for a 10-stroke win over Allison Howarth of St. Mary’s University-Texas and California Baptist University’s Marvi Monsalve, who ended up tied for second to third.

Howarth, who was only two shots back at 4-under 68 in the first round, registered a 3-over 75 in the second round, while Monslave logged in 2-under 68 to both end up at 1-under 143.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Lauren Kruszewski, who opened with a 3-under 69, ended with a 3-over 75 for a two-day total of even-par 144 at solo fourth place.

Holding a slim two-stroke lead entering play on Tuesday, Kim tallied five birdies and no bogeys to pull away for the 10-shot victory.

Kim shattered her own scoring record of 142, which she set in last year’s RMAC #1 Tournament at the Desert Hawk Golf Course in Pueblo West, Colo.

It was also her third straight win after topping last week’s Colorado Christian Invitational where she recorded a 4-under par 140 at the Raccoon Creek Golf Course in Littleon, Colo. She started the season with a win in the Samuel Proa Insurance Lady Wolf Pack Invitational.

Cal Baptist (587) ruled the team event, while Point Loma (600) and Colorado Mesa (601) settled for second and third, respectively. Western Washington came in fourth with 602, while first-round leader St. Mary’s ended up tied with Sonoma State with their identical 603s.

The CSU-Pueblo junior had a tournament-best 12 birdies with one bogey in the Mustang Women’s but her impressive game failed to rub off on her teammates as the ThunderWolves finished eighth overall with a two-day total of 613 (302, 311).

Julie Sanchez, Samantha Geisick, Natasha Navarro, and Megan McCutcheon failed to get their respective games going.

Sanchez finished tied at 18th with a 6-over 150, Geisick and Navarro had a two-day haul of 21-over 165 to share 68th place, while McCutcheon carded 34-over 178 to finish solo 81st out of 84 female golfers.

CSU-Pueblo will be among the visiting teams in Grand Junction, Colo. to compete in the RMAX #2 Tournament set at the Bookcliff Country Club from Sept. 29 to 30. (Jon Perez)