Northwest Wayne News

The Wayne State University women's golf team emerged victorious at the inaugural Warrior Invitational on Tuesday afternoon, held at Orchards Golf Club in Washington, Michigan. The team competed against nine schools and was led by freshman Claudia Portillo from Madrid, Spain, who earned Medalist Honors for the first time in her career.

"This was an exciting win for us!" said head coach Larry Hamilton. "With it being the first tournament we've ever hosted, it just made it that much better. I'm really proud of everyone these two days! We had outstanding performances again from both our freshmen as they finished first and second, respectively."

Portillo has shown consistent performance in her three tournaments at WSU, finishing tied-for-12th, second, and now first. She was joined at the top of the leaderboard by fellow freshman Ting-Yu Kuo from Taipei, Taiwan. Portillo scored a 148 (+4) with rounds of 72 and 76, while Kuo posted a 150 (+6) with rounds of 77 and 73.

Kuo has also been consistently strong in all three tournaments this season, placing tied-for-ninth, tied-for-10th, and now second. Her round of 73 on day two matched the lowest score of any player alongside Saginaw Valley State's Megan Thiravong and Ohio Dominican's Maria Briceno Vargas.

Sophia Wygonik from Westland, Michigan, and Sabel Imesch from Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan also placed in the top 15. Wygonik tied-for-11th with a score of 157 (+13), while Imesch tied-for-13th with a score of 158 (+14). Orianna Bylsma from Montague, Michigan rounded out the group for WSU with a tie-for-42nd finish at 178 (+34).

This victory marks Wayne State's earliest team championship in a season since their win at Ohio Dominican's Cumberland Trail Classic on September 22-23 of 2018.

Next on Wayne State's schedule is Findlay's William Beall Fall Classic at Findlay Country Club in Findlay, Ohio.