Day after matching NCAA record, DU’s Zanusso notches second win of season
By Gary Baines – 2/24/2020
A share of an NCAA scoring record one day, another individual college victory the next.
And so it’s gone for University of Denver freshman Anna Zanusso the last couple of days.
On Sunday, the Italian became the fifth NCAA women’s golfer to share the record for single-round scoring, shooting an 11-under-par 61 in the Westbrook Invitational in Peoria, Ariz.
But winning the event wasn’t any sure thing as Zanusso led by just one stroke heading into Monday’s final round. But the freshman remained in the top spot virtually the entire final day and ended up prevailing by three in a tournament that featured 90 players.
Zanusso, who will compete in the second Augusta National Women’s Amateur in early April, already has two individual college victories to her credit in large-field tournaments. She previously won the Golfweek Conference Challenge, held in September at Red Sky Golf Club in Wolcott.
At the Westbrook Invite, Zanusso went 69-61-70 for a program-record 16-under-par 200 total, which was three shots better than Oklahoma’s Ellen Secor, Nebraska’s Kate Smith and Mississippi State’s Ashley Gilliam. Secor is a former Colorado State University golfer who teamed with Katrina Prendergast to win the 2018 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball title.
Zanusso made four birdies on Monday, giving her 18 birdies and two bogeys for three rounds.
In the 16-school team competition, DU finished fourth with a total of 16-under-par 848, ending up 16 strokes behind champion Mississippi State.
Westbrook Invitational
Feb. 23-24, 2020 (final) in Peoria, Ariz.
4. (out of 16 teams) Denver 286-279-283—848
1. Anna Zanusso 69-61-70—200
26. Mary Weinstein 73-71-71–215
32. Alyson Bean 71-74-71–216
56. Camille Enright 74-73-74—221
63. Erika Danielsson 73-78-71—222
70. Anna Krekling (competing only as individual) 74-73-76–223
Also
2. Former CSU golfer Ellen Secor, Oklahoma 68-69-66–203
Elsewhere in local college golf on Monday:
— Senior Joseph Crisostomo posted the best individual finish of the season by an Air Force Academy golfer, tying for fourth in the Loyola Intercollegiate in Goodyear, Ariz.
Crisostomo fired three consecutive rounds of 3-under-par 69, finishing with a 9-under 207 total, which put him two strokes behind winner Roberto Nieves of Delaware. Crisostomo carded an eagle, three birdies and two bogeys on Monday.
Air Force ended up in eighth place in the 19-team field.
Loyola Intercollegiate
Feb. 22-24, 2020 (final) in Goodyear, Ariz.
8. (out of 19 teams) Air Force Academy 292-286-283—861
4. Joseph Crisostomo 69-69-69–207
34. Jonathan Farmer 74-74-70—214
46. Kyle Spencer 75-69-75—219
56. Joshua Wu 77-74-69–220
87. Anson Kuznik 74-76-76–226
90. Colter Baca (competing only as individual) 78-74-75–227