St. George, Utah (March 16, 2018) – With three Cowgirls in the top-ten, the University of Wyoming women's golf team closed out the Lady Thunderbird Invitational with a team score of 292 (+4) to take home a two-shot victory from the Sunbrook Golf Club in St. George, Utah. The final round team score tied for second-best in Cowgirl history and the win is the first for UW since the fall of 2008.
 
"Wow, what a well-deserved and fun win for this team," Cowgirl head coach Josey Stender said. "To come from seven strokes back and play as well as they did is a credit to all of the hard work and commitment to our team process. We will enjoy this one for a few days and use the momentum going into Tucson next week."
 
The Brown and Gold were behind South Dakota State in second place after the first round, but claimed the victory with a 598 (+22) on Friday. UW's last win as a squad came on Oct. 14, 2008. The Cowgirls then won the Bronco Fall Invite hosted by Boise State and finished in a four-way tie with a 603 (+27).
 
Senior Gabrielle Gibson led the charge on the day with a 73 (+1). She moved up a spot to finish the 36-hole event tied for fourth with a two-day total 148 (+4). It was her fifth top-ten finish of the season.
 
One shot behind Gibson was redshirt freshman Caitlyn Skavdahl. The Casper native recorded a 75 (+3) on Friday to finish tied for sixth. The finish was the best of her career, as her previous best came at the Wyoming Cowgirl Desert Intercollegiate in the fall where she tied for 32nd.
 
Like Gibson, junior Megan Knadler also shot a 73 (+1) during the final 18 holes. Knadler joined Gibson and Skavdahl in the top-ten, as she earned a share of ninth-place with a two-round 151 (+7). It became the third top-ten finish of Knadler's career.
 
Posting a team-best 71 (-1) on Friday, sophomore Erin Sargent tied for 13th with a total 152 (+8). It was her third top-15 finish as a Cowgirl. Junior Sarah Hankins closed out the event with a 78 (+6) to tie for 26th with a 157 (+13), as redshirt sophomore Kaylee Knadler, who is playing as an individual, shot a 79 (+7) over the final 18 holes. She tied for 33rd with a 158 (+14).
 
South Dakota State finished in second with a 600 (+24), while host Southern Utah shot a 607 (+31) for third-place as a team. SDSU's Sydney Bormann claimed with a two-round mark of 144 (E).
 
UW is back in action next week in Tucson, Ariz. The Mountain View Collegiate will begin on Friday, March 23.
 
Wyoming Results
T4. Gabrielle Gibson: 75 (+3) – 73 (+1) = 148 (+4)
T6. Caitlyn Skavdahl: 74 (+2) – 75 (+3) = 149 (+5)
T9. Megan Knadler: 78 (+6) – 73 (+1) = 151 (+7)
T13: Sarah Hankins: 79 (+7) – 78 (+6) = 157 (+13)
T26. Erin Sargent: 81 (+9) – 71 (-1) = 152 (+8)
T33: Kaylee Knadler: 79 (+7) – 79 (+7) = 158 (+14)*
* Played as an individual.