WG: Bears record sixth-consecutive top-5 finish at UCF Challenge

Tuesday, January 27

Orlando, Fla.

Baylor

PDI Intercollegiate

WG: Bears record sixth-consecutive top-5 finish at UCF Challenge

1/27/2026 2:19:00 PM | Women's Golf

Matching rounds of 66 fuel Castro, Wan to top-10 individual finishes

UCF CHALLENGE RESULTS

ORLANDO, Fla. – With sophomore Malena Castro matching freshman Amelia Wan's opening-round score of 6-under 66 in Monday's second round, the Baylor underclassmen had top-10 finishes and helped the 21^st-ranked Bears to a fourth-place finish Tuesday at the UCF Challenge.

Because of expected inclement weather, the tournament was suspended late Monday with only three to four holes remaining to be finished. Baylor dropped four strokes in the closing holes at Eagle Creek Golf Club and finished at 10-under 854, five shots behind third-place UCF (15-under, 859).

No. 7 Auburn was the wire-to-wire leader and won with a 54-hole total of 24-under 840, followed by No. 18 Mississippi State at 20-under 844. Penn State rounded out the top five in the 16-team tournament at 5-under 859.

"I think there were lots of positives from the week," said Baylor coach Jay Goble, who celebrated his birthday on Tuesday, "and also lots of things to work on. The weather was different every day, which made adjustments tough. We will go home and work hard on our short games and hit lots of wedges to be ready for the Tucson Country Club."

Castro played a near-flawless second round Monday morning with seven birdies, her only blemish being a bogey on the par-4 12^th hole. She closed with an even-par third round and tied for fourth at 7-under 219 for her second-straight top-five finish.

The first-round leader, Wan followed up her sizzling opening round with 72-73 to finish tied for 10^th at 5-under 221 with her first top-10 finish.

"Amelia and Malena were our best finishers for the week," Goble said, "and they both had very solid events. It was nice to see them both shoot 66s during the week and finish well."

Playing as an individual, senior Bridget Boczar shot 4-under 68 in Monday's morning round and finished tied for 14^th at 3-under 221. Fellow senior Silje Ohma had the team's best closing round at 1-under 71 despite bogeys on her last two holes and tied for 53^rd at 6-over 232.

Illinois transfer Yurang Li, who won her previous two tournaments, recorded 18-straight pars in the third round and tied for 35^th at 3-over 229 with Lynn University transfer Charlotte Brook, who was playing in the lineup for just the third time.

First-semester freshman Paloma Ibarra Ambia, also playing as an individual, shot 1-over 73 in the final round and tied for 47^th in the 96-player field at 5-over 231.

Next up for the Bears will be the Arizona Thunderbird Intercollegiate on Feb 9-10 at Tucson Country Club in Tucson, Ariz.

For the latest news on the Baylor women's golf team, follow its official Facebook, X and Instagram accounts: @BaylorWGolf.

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