The UCA women’s golf team took a trip to the Caribbean as it participated in the Puerto Rico Iguana Invitational with freshman Alethea Paige Gaccion winning the tournament. 

Lasting from March 3 to March 5, the tournament saw UCA finish 2nd overall in team standings. 

As a team, UCA made 160 pars, 32 birdies and one eagle. 

The Bears had the 5th best average on par 3s, the best average on par 4s and the 3rd best average on par 5s. 

The team played one round a day in the three-stroke tournament.

After the first round, UCA was tied for first overall. The second round proved less successful as the Bears fell to second. 

But, on the final day of the tournament, UCA was the best team overall – though it was unable to catch Georgia State and ultimately finished second at three strokes back. 

Individually, Gaccion finished the tournament shooting -2. 

After three rounds, she was tied with Georgia State’s TK KongThong for first place – leading to a playoff between the two golfers.

Gaccion was able to hit a clutch birdie at the first playoff hole to beat KongThong and win the tournament. 

Other top finishers for UCA include sophomore Gudrun Thorsteinsdottir, who shot +4 and finished 5th overall in the tournament.

Junior Maggie Huett shot +6 and finished 8th overall, while junior Valeria Ramirez shot +10 and finished 20th in the tournament. 

Senior Aubrey Marx shot +21 and finished 41st overall. 

While falling just behind Georgia State, UCA was able to surpass fellow in-state schools Arkansas State and UALR. 

The next trip for the women’s golf team will be to Mobile, Ala. for the Magnolia Collegiate on March 17-18.