UH-Hilo’s Sawada Wins St. Martin’s Golf Invitational

University of Hawai`i at Hilo junior Kristen Sawada earned her first individual tournament victory on the collegiate level Saturday at the St. Martin’s Invitational, held at the Tumwater Valley Golf Course in Olympia, Wash.

Sawada fired a two-over-par 74 on the tournament’s second and final day to climb from a tie in third place to a two stroke victory. For the tournament, Sawada shot a six-over-par 152. Northwest Nazarene’s Samantha Miller was the runner-up.

In the overall team competition, the Vulcans shot a combined 627, three strokes behind team champion British Columbia University.

Sawada’s teammate, senior Kacie Harada, was the only other Vulcan to finish in the top 10. Harada finished in a tie for fifth place with a two-round total of 155. She shot a 77 on Friday and 78 on Saturday.

St. Martin’s Invitational results

Team standings

1. British Columbia University – 624

2. University of Hawai`i at Hilo – 627

3. Western Washington University – 645

4. Saint Martin’s University – 653

5. Victoria (BC) – 655

6. Concordia University (OR) – 657

7. Northwest Nazarene – 676

8. Simon Fraser University – 718

Top ten – individual standings

1. Kristen Sawada, Hawai`i-Hilo – 150

2. Samantha Miller, Northwest Nazarene – 152

3. Mandy Wittmier, Saint Martin’s – 153

4. Winnie Huyn, British Columbia – 154

T5. Kat Kennedy, British Columbia – 155

T5. Kacie Harada, Hawai`i-Hilo – 155

T5. Sunny Powers, Concordia – 155

8. Brynn Tomie, Victoria – 157

T9. Valentina Trillo, British Columbia – 158

T9. Casara Hong, British Columbia – 158

T9. Kristen Hansen, Western Washington – 158