MAYETTA, Kan. – Denver pulled away from the pack to secure its fifth straight team title in record-breaking fashion at the 2024 Summit League Women's Golf Championship. The Pioneers closed out the 54-event with a final round score of 275 (-13) to finish with a tournament record 850 (-14) total.
Junior Clara Gestsdottir captured Championship MVP honors with a finishing 66 (-6) at a much calmer Firekeeper Golf Course. Denver, under the guidance of third-year head coach Martha Richards, set the team scoring mark for the second consecutive year and have now won nine of the last 10 titles.
Gestdottir's season-best final round was enough to secure her first collegiate victory by one stroke as she finished one stroke ahead of teammate Emma Bryant with a 54-hole total of 210 (-6). Bryant totaled a 68 (-4) in the final round to finish runner-up with a 211 (-5). Fellow Pioneer Anna Zanusso earned her fourth career All-Tournament nod after she closed with a 70 (-2) to wrap up her final League tournament with a 213 (-3).
The Denver trio helped DU break its own 54-hole tournament scoring mark that was two strokes better than the Pioneers' record-breaking effort in 2023 at the Wilderness Ridge Country Club in Lincoln, Neb.
Oral Roberts’ Avery Blake carded a final-round 70 (-2) to pace the Golden Eagles to a runner-up finish in the team standings with an 892 (+28). Blake finished with Zanusso at 213 (-3) and was joined by teammate Kate Strickland on the all-tournament team. Strickland finished with a score of 70 (-2).
St. Thomas and South Dakota State finished in a tie for third place in the team standings as the Tommies finished the final round with a 294 (+6), while the Jackrabbits scored a 293 (+5).
The Pioneers will found out their NCAA Regional destination Wednesday when the Selection Show airs live at 1 p.m. CT/12 p.m. MT on the Golf Channel with a stream available online at www.GolfChannel.com.
All-Tournament Team
Emma Bryant, Denver
Clara Gestsdottir, Denver
Anna Zanusso, Denver
Avery Blake, Oral Roberts
Kate Stickland, Oral Roberts
Championship MVP
Clara Gestsdottir, Denver
Scholar of the Championship presented by JLG Architects
Carrie Carpenter, North Dakota
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