LAS VEGAS, Nev. – With the team sitting in third place entering the second round of the Warrior Invitational on Wednesday, the Missouri Western women’s golf team had the best team score of the second round to jump two spots and win the tournament.

Anna Bech came into the second day of the tournament tied for 15th, but shot a 78 (+6) to vault up to first to tie teammate Shi Qing Ong as co-winner of the tournament. Bech and Ong both finished 159 (+15) to win the event by five strokes.

The Griffons handled the weather conditions better than any other team at the tournament. Wind gusts on the course consistently ranged from 25 to 35 miles per hour, with some gusts as high as 50 miles per hour. Each of the eight teams at the event suffered higher stroke totals on Wednesday, but the Griffons still managed to out-perform the next best round-two score by 20 strokes.

Bech was the main story of the second round. Bech shot an impressive 78 (+6) to climb 14 spots for a share of the individual tournament win. She was one of just four golfers to improve in the field of 47. The win gives Bech her first career victory at Missouri Western.

Ong held on to tie for the win with her 88 (+16) in round two. Her second-round score gave her the fifth-best performance in the field.

Chong Yong tied for fourth place to give the Griffons three of the top five finishers. Yong’s score of 85 (+13) was the second-best score of the round, behind Bech’s 78.

Giving Missouri Western another top-10 finish was Jenna Kosmatka. Kosmatka finished tied for eighth after her 89 (+17) on Wednesday. She entered the round tied for 15th but advanced seven spots on day two.

Rounding out the scores for the Griffons was Sabrina Galfano, whose two day score of 183 landed her in the top-25.

Missouri Western Women’s Golf will return to St. Joseph for its next event, as they compete in the MWSU Holiday Inn Express Invitational at the St. Joseph Country Club on March 18-19.

— MWSU Athletics —