SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – The New Mexico State Aggies bounced back in Tuesday's final round at the Bruin-Wave Invitational to finish ninth in the powerful 16-team field.
 
The Aggies posted the second-lowest team score of the final round at 5-over 293 to finish the tournament with a 920 at the San Luis Obispo Country Club, one stroke ahead of co-host Pepperdine at 921 and seven in back of eighth place Washington at 913.
 
NM State improved five positions from the 14th spot after the second round.
 
"It was one of the best rounds of golf I have witnessed as their coach," said Aggie head coach Jackie Booth. "I could not be more proud of how they represented NM State today."
 
"The team played as solid as I have seen this group play. Their attitudes, demeanor and golf course management were phenomenal. To have the second lowest round in a Tournament with all the best teams from the west coast tells the story of how great this team can be this spring.
 
The Aggies were boosted by junior Camille Orito from Fresno, Calif./Clovis West, who fired a 1-under-par 71 on the par 72, 6,250 yard SLOCC course to finish in a tie for 21st at 11-over 227.
 
Orito, who started at No. 10 in the final round, opened with a birdie, double bogey, birdie before playing the rest of the back side at even-par. On the front nine, she put up bogeys on the third and fifth holes, then finished strong with birdies on three of her final nine holes.
 
Senior Viviana Macias from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, also had a great turnaround. The senior shot an even-par 72 in the final round to place 24th at 12-over 228. Vivi posted three birdies and a bogey on the back nine, but slipped with a double bogey and bogey on the fifth and sixth hole before a birdie on the seventh to return to even-par.
 
Senior Kacey Dalpes of Alamogordo, N.M., carded a 2-over 74 on Tuesday, while junior Valeria Macias of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and sophomore Kennedie Montoya of Thatcher, Ariz., each tallied a 4-over 76. Dalpes finished 29th with a 230, while Vale Macias totaled 236 and Montoya 237.
 
Tournament co-host UCLA cruised to the team title, scoring a 4-over 292 on Tuesday to win with an 868. Arizona State was second at 882, while California placed third at 888.
 
Individually, UCLA's Louise Ridderstorm fired a 5-under 67 to tie teammate Bronte Law at 3-under 213, sending the duo to a playoff. Ridderstorm won a two-hole playoff to take the medalist honors. San Diego State's Emma Henrikson was third with a 1-under 215.
 
The Aggies will be back in action next Monday and Tuesday at the Fresno State Classic at the San Joaquin Country Club.