ST. GEORGE, Utah — The Stetson women's golf team capped a strong week in the desert with a runner-up finish at the Pizza Hut Lady Thunderbird Invitational at Sunbrook Golf Club. The Hatters finished second in the nine-team field at 7-over-par for the tournament after posting a 2-over-par final round, finishing five strokes behind tournament champion Weber State.
Stetson entered the final round firmly in contention after an impressive start to the tournament. The Hatters opened with a 6-over-par 294 in round one to take the early lead before firing a 1-under-par team score in round two, the second-best round of the tournament. Through 36 holes, Stetson sat at 5-over-par and in second place.
In Sunday's final round, the Hatters battled down the stretch and briefly reclaimed the lead before ultimately finishing second overall at 871 (+7).
Individually, Isaki Sakashita tied for medalist honors before falling in a playoff to Wyoming's Kiley Reisner. Sakashita finished the 54-hole event at 2-under-par, highlighted by a 2-under 70 in round two that included five birdies. Both players made par on the first playoff hole before Reisner birdied the second playoff hole while Sakashita finished with a double bogey.
Anna Huettl turned in one of her best performances of the season, finishing tied for third place at 1-under-par for the tournament. Huettl led the Hatters in the final round with a 1-under-par performance and also fired a 3-under 69 in round two, including a 3-under 33 on the front nine with four birdies.
Filippa Jansson finished tied for ninth after carding a 3-over 75 in the final round to finish the tournament at 5-over-par. Ailsa Brannock and Julieta Oviedo both tied for 13th place at 8-over-par overall. Brannock improved her standing throughout the tournament after opening with a 4-over round, while Oviedo delivered one of the highlights of the week with an eagle on the par-5 14th hole during round two and closed the tournament with an even-par round on Sunday.
As a team, the Hatters produced one of the most consistent offensive performances in the field. Stetson led the tournament in both par-4 and par-5 scoring and recorded a field-high 48 birdies. Sakashita led all players with 13 birdies, while Huettl finished tied for second in the field with 12. Brannock ranked third in the field with 38 pars as the Hatters totaled 163 pars across the three rounds, fourth-most among the nine teams.
The Hatters will return to action March 16–17 at the Magnolia Collegiate Invitational, hosted by South Alabama at the RTJ Magnolia Grove Golf Course in Mobile, Alabama.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
