KOHALA COAST, Hawai'i – Holding a two-shot lead after the first 18 holes, the Biola Eagles added to their edge on Day 2 and finished strong on championship Wednesday to win the 2024 Pacific West Conference Women's Golf Championship at the Mauna Lani Golf Course.
In doing so, the Eagles will represent the conference at the NCAA West Region tournament, May 6-8, in Stockton, California. It was Biola's second PacWest championship in women's golf, also winning in 2022.
Hawai'i Hilo's Kiersten Saludares finished with an even-par 72 to hold off Biola's Brady Turnquist for medalist honors. The Hilo sophomore shot a wind-blown 77 on the first day but rallied back with scores of 71 and 72 to finish at +4. Saludares is the first Vulcan to win the PacWest tournament in 10 years, last accomplished by Kristen Sawada in 2014.
Turnquist, who had the best round of any player in the tournament on Tuesday with a 69, finished just three shots back of Saludares at the end of the day Wednesday at +7. HPU's Shuiyun He, the first and second round leader, finished third at +8. Point Loma's Kiara Hernadez was fourth (+10) and Dominican's Claire Shubin was fifth (+12).
In the team standings, Biola finished at +59 to win by six strokes. Academy of Art was second (+65) with Hawai'i Hilo in third (+69). HPU grabbed the fourth spot (+77), Point Loma was fifth (+78), Dominican was sixth (+93) and Westmont was seventh (+107).
Biola won the title thanks to the three-day scores of Turnquist and Melanie Reyes (+13) but also needed solid scoring from Theresa Shaw (+16) and Rachel Shaw (+25) to claim the title with an overall score of 923.
2024 PacWest Conference Championships Individual Leader Board
| NAME |
PLACE |
SCORE |
RD TOTALS |
NOTES |
| K. Saludares |
No. 1 |
+4 |
77–71–72 (220) |
9 Birdies |
| E. Otani |
No. T11 |
+17 |
83–71–79 (233) |
6 Birdies |
| T. Kuali'i |
No. T20 |
+24 |
81–82–77 (240) |
7 Birdies |
| T. Ledgerwood |
No. T20 |
+24 |
79–81–80 (240) |
3 Birdies |
| K. Oki |
No. 34 |
+45 |
88–85–88 (261) |
1 Birdies |
2024 PacWest Conference Championships
| TEAM |
TO PAR |
RD SCORES |
TOP SCORER |
| 1. Biola |
+59 |
318–297–308 (923) |
2 – B. Turnquist |
| 2. Academy of Art |
+65 |
320–304–305 (929) |
6 – P. Rattanaprakam |
| 3. Hawai'i Hilo |
+69 |
320–305–308 (933) |
1 – K. Saludares |
| 4. HPU |
+77 |
325–301–315 (941) |
3 – S. He |
| 5. Point Loma |
+78 |
321–313–308 (942) |
4 – K. Hernandez |
| 6. Dominican |
+93 |
334–302–321 (957) |
5 – C. Shubin |
| 7. Westmont |
+107 |
343–307–321 (971) |
17 – N. Thompson |
