Saavedra leads BU to 11th-place finish at NAIA Nationals

Team Leaderboard | Player Leaderboard

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Led by freshman Maria Saavedra, the Bellevue University women's golf team finished in 11th place at the 2013 NAIA Women's Golf National Championships at the Wilderness Ridge Golf Course Friday afternoon. 

Saavedra finished the tournament in a tie for fourth place after firing a final round even-par score of 72 for a 72-hole total of 306 (79-78-77-72). Her even-par score of 72 tied for the lowest round of the day and earned her a spot on the all-tournament team.

The Bruins carded their lowest team total of the tournament, finishing with a 314 for a four-day total of 1,273 (319-319-321-314).

Oklahoma City University won the team title by 12 strokes, after registering a 72-hole total of 1,224 (310-305-305-304). The University of British Columbia finished second at 1,236 (312-308-310-306). 

Natalia Soria finished in a tie for 51st place with a 322 (78-81-82-81) total. Renee Santoyo placed in a tie for 55th at 323 (81-79-79-84). Christina VonRiesen carded a 326 (81-81-83-81) total, which put her in a tie for 59th place. Izzy Hernandez had the second-best Bellevue round of the day with an 80, finishing the tournament in a tie for 71st with a 331 (83-85-83-80) total.

Note: In its second year as a varsity sport, this was the Bruins' first-ever appearance in the NAIA National Championships. Bellevue finished the year ranked No. 11 in the NAIA Women's Golf Coaches' Postseason Top 25 poll.

 Bellevue Scores

Final Team Standings