GOODYEAR, Ariz. – The Hawai'i Pacific University women improved nine strokes on Tuesday to finish 14th at the RJGA Shootout at Estrella at The Golf Club of Estrella.
 
The Sharks posted a 316 in Tuesday's final round for a final tournament score of 641 to climb to 14th from 17th in the 19-team field that featured nearly all the top NCAA Division II teams from west of the Rockies. The Sharks were two strokes better than the 15th place tie between Metro State Denver and Colorado State-Pueblo at 643, as both put up a 319 in the final round. HPU was three shots in back of 13th place Colorado Mesa at 638.
 
Freshman Kellie Yamane of Aiea, Hawai'i/Iolani led the Sharks in the final round, firing a 3-over-par 75 78 on the par 72, 6,087-yard Estrella layout to finish at 12-over 156. Freshman Lily Landt of Reno, Nev./Wooster added a second 6-over 78 to be part of the tie at 12-over 156. Freshman Kaylee Akagi of Mililani, Hawai'i/Punahou gave the Sharks a third round in the 70s on Tuesday with a 7-over 79 to finish at 164. Freshman Clarissa Burhan of Las Vegas, Nev./Clark chalked up an 84 for a 165, and sophomore Megan Marty of Scottsdale, Ariz./Desert Mountain carded a 92 to finish at 178.
 
Cal State San Marcos rolled up a tournament-best round of 293 to win the team title at 598, six strokes better than Embry-Riddle (Ariz.), the only NAIA school in the field, after a 298 round for a 604. Colorado Christian was third at 606.
 
The individual competition ended in a three-way tie, all finishing at 1-under 143. Point Loma's Raquel Prado fired a 4-under 68 in the final round, CSUSM's Breann Horn carded a 2-under 70 and Cal State East Bay's Drishti Karumbaya a 3-over 75 to form the tie at 143. Colorado Christian's Faith Kilgore and Cal State-LA's Morgan Sjoerdsma tied for fourth at even-par 144.
 
The Sharks will play again on next Monday and Tuesday as the travel to Northern California to play in the Sonoma State Fall Invitational at the Santa Rosa Golf and Country Club in Santa Rosa, Calif.