Packard captures golf title

CHULA VISTA — UC Irvine sophomore Hillary Packard won her first collegiate tournament capturing the Aztec Invitational as the Anteaters placed second at the Salt Creek Golf Course Tuesday.

Packard claimed medalist honors with a two-over 218 (68-77-73), three shots ahead of Long Beach State’s Lee Lopez and San Diego State’s Malin Enarsson (221). Her first-round 68, which was the low score of the tournament, is tied for the seventh lowest round in program history. Packard is the seventh women’s player to win an individual title at UCI.

The 24th-ranked Anteaters ended the tournament with a score of 906 (287-318-301), six shots behind 28th-ranked San Jose State who won the team title with a score of 36-over 900 (288-312-300). Teams finished the second round early Tuesday morning before beginning the final round due to rain on Monday.

Senior Jane Chin finished tied for seventh with a score of 225 (73-78-74), while junior Patty Chawalitmetha was tied for 21st after carding a 231 (72-80-79).

Freshman Lalita Patipaksiri was 23rd with a score of 232 (74-83-75) and junior Henna Cho was 85th with a score of 256 (82-93-81).

UC Irvine will participate in the Fresno State Invitational Feb. 23-24 at the Copper River Country Club next.

— From staff reports