GOODYEAR, Ariz.--The UH Hilo women's golf team posted their two best rounds of the season to wrap up play at the RJGA Palm Valley Classic at the Palm Valley Country Club, west of Phoenix.

The Vulcans posted scores of 319 and 320 (639), easily their top two 18-hole scores of 2021-22. They finished in 24th place of 28 teams in a loaded field of the top NCAA Division II teams in the west and midwest. 

Kaelyn Uchida and Tia Kualii both had 77's on Saturday to lead UHH. Uchida had a 157 tally for 36 holes (80-77), three total shots ahead of Kualii (83-77). Tori Hironaga was one shot back of Kualii (78-83), followed by Kailey Oki (80-83). For Hironaga, both rounds were her two best of the season. 

The Vulcans finished comfortably ahead of Fort Lewis, Saint Martin's, Montana State Billings and Chico State. They were ten shots back of Western Washington.

Northeastern State (Okla.) stood atop of the stellar field at +12 for the tournament. Cal State Monterey Bay was two shots back (+14) in second place, with Cal State East Bay in third (+18).

Faith Gilmore ran away from the field to capture medalist honors. The Colorado Christian star finished at -7. There was a three-way tie for second place at -1 between West Texas A&M's Gam Songpraset and Rylie Cook, along with Cal State East Bay's Jasmin Krishna.

The Vulcans will remain in Arizona for a Monday-Tuesday tournament at The Lodge at Ventana Canyon. UH Hilo will compete at the Spring Desert Invitational in Tucson, where many of the same teams that competed this past weekend will play again. It will be the final tune-up for the Vulcans before the Pacific West Conference Championships, April 18-20 in Litchfield Park, Ariz.

For complete RJGA Palm Valley Classic results, click here. player - RJGA Palm Valley Classic - 2022-04-01 (golfstat.com)