Fresno State Athletics
Monday, April 15
Rancho Mirage, Calif. (Mission Hills Country Club)
Fresno State
vs
Mountain West Championships
CHAMP! Thibault wins Mountain West title
4/17/2019 4:00:00 PM | Women's Golf
Results (PDF)
Photo Gallery
Video Recap (via MW - Thibault @ 2:00 mark)
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – The Fresno State women's golf team has another Mountain West Champion. Sophomore Brigitte Thibault finished what she started on Wednesday as she claimed a three round wire-to-wire win at Mission Hills Country Club to become the second MW individual champion and fourth individual conference champion in program history. The last individual to go wire-to-wire for the title was in 2014, which was Fresno State's last individual champion Gudrun Bjorgvinsdottir.
"I'm so glad to get my first collegiate event win at conference, at Mission Hills, because that's where the Q School is, that's where the ANA is, it's a lot on the future opportunities," said Thibault. "I'm really proud of myself to step it up at this major championship. I'm really happy."
Thibault entered the final round with a four-shot lead and clinched the title with a two-shot win over the next best three round score, carding a 4-over 76 on Wednesday. After shooting even-par over the first nine holes, the sophomore's lead grew as high as six shots, but four bogeys on the back nine, including three-straight on 15, 16 and 17, narrowed the lead and made things interesting down the stretch. Nevertheless, Thibault's work in rounds one and two, a first round 1-under 71 and a second round 2-under 70, ultimately earned the win as she owned two of the three under-par rounds carded by the entire championship field throughout the three-day event.
"Really proud of Brigitte," said head coach Emily Loftin. "Excellent play over three days and she learned to manage herself with having a lead and it's great to see that type of growth in a young player. This should help catapult her moving into postseason. I'm always elated when we get a victory, but even more so when it's the first one at the conference championship, just an exciting day all-around."
As a team, the Bulldogs finished fifth, which was aided by another top 10 individual finish secured by freshman Harriet Lynch. The freshman placed tied for ninth in her first championship event, 11 shots back from her teammate, Thibault. Lynch improved each day, moving from tied for 22nd after round one (79), to tied for 12th after round two (73) and up into a tie for ninth following the final round (76).
Redshirt junior Kristin Simonsen finished the tournament tied for 32nd while freshman Jessica Hall and junior Dominika Gradecka both capped the event tied for 34th.
"Wasn't the strongest finish for us as a team, but we have good things happening," said Loftin. "The exciting thing is that we have every player from this team returning next year, so we will definitely have depth with some seasoned veterans coming back looking to take some revenge here at the conference championships."
The 2019 NCAA Regionals will be held May 6-8 at four different sites, followed by the NCAA Championships, May 17-22. Thibault will look to get an invitation to participate as an individual during the NCAA Women's Golf selection show on April 24.
Mountain West Championship
April 15-17, 2019
Final Results
Par: 72; Yardage: 6,270
Team Leaderboard
1. San Diego State: 303-295-306=904 (+40)
2. Nevada: 305-303-297=905 (+41)
3. UNLV: 310-299-302=911 (+47)
4. San Jose State: 299-308-305=912 (+48)
5. Fresno State: 313-300-308=921 (+57)
6. Boise State: 313-310-308=931 (+67)
7. New Mexico: 318-317-310=945 (+81)
8. Colorado State: 321-319-309=949 (+85)
9. Wyoming: 313-319-326=958 (+94)
Fresno State Leaderboard
1. Brigitte Thibault: 71-70-76=217 (+1)
T9. Harriet Lynch: 79-73-76=228 (+12)
T32. Kristin Simonsen: 84-79-76=239 (+23)
T34. Jessica Hall: 79-79-84=242 (+26)
T34. Dominika Gradecka: 84-78-80=242 (+26)
Fresno State Individual Conference Champion History
May 6-8, 2019 NCAA Regionals (four sites)
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" - The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.
Photo Gallery
Video Recap (via MW - Thibault @ 2:00 mark)
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – The Fresno State women's golf team has another Mountain West Champion. Sophomore Brigitte Thibault finished what she started on Wednesday as she claimed a three round wire-to-wire win at Mission Hills Country Club to become the second MW individual champion and fourth individual conference champion in program history. The last individual to go wire-to-wire for the title was in 2014, which was Fresno State's last individual champion Gudrun Bjorgvinsdottir.
"I'm so glad to get my first collegiate event win at conference, at Mission Hills, because that's where the Q School is, that's where the ANA is, it's a lot on the future opportunities," said Thibault. "I'm really proud of myself to step it up at this major championship. I'm really happy."
Thibault entered the final round with a four-shot lead and clinched the title with a two-shot win over the next best three round score, carding a 4-over 76 on Wednesday. After shooting even-par over the first nine holes, the sophomore's lead grew as high as six shots, but four bogeys on the back nine, including three-straight on 15, 16 and 17, narrowed the lead and made things interesting down the stretch. Nevertheless, Thibault's work in rounds one and two, a first round 1-under 71 and a second round 2-under 70, ultimately earned the win as she owned two of the three under-par rounds carded by the entire championship field throughout the three-day event.
"Really proud of Brigitte," said head coach Emily Loftin. "Excellent play over three days and she learned to manage herself with having a lead and it's great to see that type of growth in a young player. This should help catapult her moving into postseason. I'm always elated when we get a victory, but even more so when it's the first one at the conference championship, just an exciting day all-around."
As a team, the Bulldogs finished fifth, which was aided by another top 10 individual finish secured by freshman Harriet Lynch. The freshman placed tied for ninth in her first championship event, 11 shots back from her teammate, Thibault. Lynch improved each day, moving from tied for 22nd after round one (79), to tied for 12th after round two (73) and up into a tie for ninth following the final round (76).
Redshirt junior Kristin Simonsen finished the tournament tied for 32nd while freshman Jessica Hall and junior Dominika Gradecka both capped the event tied for 34th.
"Wasn't the strongest finish for us as a team, but we have good things happening," said Loftin. "The exciting thing is that we have every player from this team returning next year, so we will definitely have depth with some seasoned veterans coming back looking to take some revenge here at the conference championships."
The 2019 NCAA Regionals will be held May 6-8 at four different sites, followed by the NCAA Championships, May 17-22. Thibault will look to get an invitation to participate as an individual during the NCAA Women's Golf selection show on April 24.
Mountain West Championship
April 15-17, 2019
Final Results
Par: 72; Yardage: 6,270
Team Leaderboard
1. San Diego State: 303-295-306=904 (+40)
2. Nevada: 305-303-297=905 (+41)
3. UNLV: 310-299-302=911 (+47)
4. San Jose State: 299-308-305=912 (+48)
5. Fresno State: 313-300-308=921 (+57)
6. Boise State: 313-310-308=931 (+67)
7. New Mexico: 318-317-310=945 (+81)
8. Colorado State: 321-319-309=949 (+85)
9. Wyoming: 313-319-326=958 (+94)
Fresno State Leaderboard
1. Brigitte Thibault: 71-70-76=217 (+1)
T9. Harriet Lynch: 79-73-76=228 (+12)
T32. Kristin Simonsen: 84-79-76=239 (+23)
T34. Jessica Hall: 79-79-84=242 (+26)
T34. Dominika Gradecka: 84-78-80=242 (+26)
From @anwagolf to a @MountainWest Championship, it's been an incredible two weeks for Brigitte Thibault‼️ #GoDogs #Champ 🥇 pic.twitter.com/BnwfA3727s
— Fresno State WGOLF (@FresnoStateWG) April 18, 2019
Fresno State Individual Conference Champion History
- Brigitte Thibault – 2019, Mountain West
- Gudrun Bjorgvinsdottir – 2014, Mountain West
- Laura Luethke – 2008, WAC
- Hali Coppin – 2010, WAC
May 6-8, 2019 NCAA Regionals (four sites)
- Auburn University Club – Auburn, Ala. [host: Auburn]
- Tumble Creek Golf Course – Cle Elum, Wash. [host: Washington]
- Forest Akers West Golf Course – Lansing, Mich. [host: Michigan State]
- Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club – Norman, Okla. [host: Oklahoma]
- Fayetteville, Ark. Blessings Golf Club [host: Arkansas]
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" - The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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