INDIO, Calif. --- Biola Women's Golf hosted Ottawa (Ariz.) at Indian Springs Golf & Country Club on Monday for a 36-hole playoff to determine the National Christian College Athletic Association West Region representative at this month's NCCAA Championships.
The Eagles recorded two rounds of sub-300 golf to beat the Spirit by 44 strokes and clinch that spot in the national championship field.
Sami Penor led the way with an individual score of 145 (+1) as she helped her team score a 591 (298, 293) to beat Ottawa's total of 635.
All five Biola scorers had two-round totals lower than all five of Ottawa's golfers. Penor shot her second under-par round of the year when she carded a 71 in the first round. Nine of Biola's 10 rounds were in the 70s, including three rounds of 72 or under.
"Sami just continues to be such a great asset for Biola," said Head Coach Jane Carr. "She's a great athlete and a great person and her game has pushed all the other players to a new level. I think we are beginning to see that as they all come together."
Sophomore Sophia Karnazes was the day's second-best scorer. She put up a 74 in the opening round and followed it up with a career-best score of 72. Coming into the day, her best single round in her two-year Biola career was a 76. She ended the tournament with a 146 (+2).
"I could not be prouder of Sophia today," said Carr. "An even-par round. She stayed steady out there and made a bunch of birdies. It was wonderful."
Second-year star Jules Loibl showed some grit by being the third Eagle to shoot a 72 or better on the afternoon. She shot the highest BU score in the first round (80) and then followed it up with a tremendous effort to put up a 72 in round two. Loibl birdied hole 13 and hole 17 to work her way down to even-par in the second 18. She would finish the day at 152 (+8).
Alexis Gopfert and Tori Roeske were both just one stroke back from Loibl with total scores of 153 (+9). Gopfert recorded five birdies, which was third-most on the course today. Karnazes led the way in that category with an astounding eight, Penor was second with six.
Roeske had one of the more remarkable rounds of the day in the opening round. She began the 36-hole tournament with a deflating 10-spot (+6) on the very first hole. The senior dug in, flashed a smile and preceded to play even-par golf over the rest of the 17 holes in the first round to post a 78 (+6). She made a long putt to make birdie on the par-3 14th and shot three strokes better in the second round (75). All but 10 of Roeske's 36 holes were pars as she led the tournament in that category.
"I thought Tori coming out six-over on the first hole and then shooting even-par was just amazing for an athlete," said Carr. "When something like that happens to you with 35 holes ahead of you it could derail you. I was proud of her demeanor out there to gather herself back for the next 35 holes was incredible."
The Eagles' two-round team score of 591 is a new program-best for a two-round tournament, bettering the mark of 607 just set at this year's first tournament. Prior to this year the Eagles had never had a round under 300, and now they've got two.
"This team is getting in the 70s more and getting a little more comfortable in the 70s," said Carr. "I think that's indicative of a team that is on its way."
Biola is not taking much time off to savor this victory. They head right back on the road for an Arizona road trip on Monday and Tuesday of next week at the Embry-Riddle Co-Ed Invitational. The Eagles won that tournament one year ago.
