BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. – For the first time in program history, the Ave Maria Women's Golf team took to the links in the Grand Canyon State, competing in the OUAZ Invitational at the Laughlin Ranch Golf Club. The Gyrenes placed fifth as a team in a field of 11 and had one golfer finish in the top 10.

Maria Spreitzer led the Gyrenes shooting 6-over-par in the first day of the invitational. Spreitzer opened the round with a birdie on her first hole and then logged 12 more pars. Lauren Stewart, Maya Berglund, and Gianna Reginelli, all finished just two shots behind Spreitzer at 8-over-par. Stewart also recorded a birdie in the 14^th hole, joining Spreitzer in the birdie club.

After the first day of competition, the Gyrenes sat in fourth place with a team of score 30-over-par.

The second day of competition was rougher for every team involved. The average team score rose from 62-over-par to 79-over-par. The Gyrenes dropped one spot on the team leaderboard but still had rather successful Tuesday compared to some of the other squads.

Stewart had the best performance in round two, shooting 8-over-par. Spreitzer was next on the card for the Gyrenes with an 87 in the second round. Spreitzer logged the only birdie of the day for the Gyrenes on her third hole of the round. Berglund finished third with a 91and Reginelli rounded out the group with a 92.

As a team the Gyrenes took fifth place with a +92. Ave Maria finished 43 strokes in front of Marian (Wisc.) in sixth place.

Individually, Lauren Stewart finished tied for 10th out of 60 players, shooting 16-over-par across both days of the competition. It is her second top-10 finish of the season. Spreitzer was next for the Gyrenes, finishing tied for 18^th with a +21. Berglund finished tied for 27^th with a +27 and Reginelli was right behind her in 29^th place with a +28. Gracie Milam finished fifth both days for the Gyrenes and ended the tournament with an overall +33.

The Gyrenes are back on the links March 8-10 as they compete in the Kona Ice Keiser Kip at the Okeeheelee Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida. Two other Sun Conference teams will compete in the tournament including New College of Florida and host Keiser.