Las Vegas, Nev. – Georgia’s Mallory Hetzel and Marta Silva Zamora tied for individual medalist honors at the UNLV Spring Invitational on Monday. Both Bulldogs finished the 54-hole event at 2-under 214. No. 8 Georgia placed third at 894, 10 shots behind tourney-hosting champion UNLV at the Boulder Creek Golf Club.

Hetzel finished with a 4-under 68, while Silva Zamora carded a 2-under 70. Georgia also counted a 74 from Carolina Andrade and a 78 from Leigh Crosby to post a 2-over 290 on Tuesday.

Hetzel was playing in the group ahead of Silva Zamora, the first- and second-round leader, and the teammates battled down the stretch.

Hetzel moved into a tie following back-to-back birdies at No. 14 and No. 15, but Silva Zamora also birdied No. 15 moments later to inch ahead. Silva Zamora bogeyed No. 16 to fall back into a tie; however, she birdied No. 17 to regain an edge. Hetzel knotted the score again with a birdie at No. 18 before Silva Zamora’s eight-foot birdie putt on the closing hole that would have secured an outright win lipped out.

Hetzel completed an emotional six-day span. She traveled to Las Vegas a day after the unexpected death of her uncle, Patrick Hetzel, last Friday. Patrick Hetzel was the younger brother of Mallory’s father, Doug Hetzel.

“Mallory played with a heavy heart,” head coach Kelley Hester said. “The first thing she said when she won was that she wished her dad could have been here to see it. She dedicated the win to her uncle in the awards ceremony and I know it meant a lot to her to play well here in his honor.”

The win was the first of collegiate victory for Hetzel, a senior from Summerville, S.C.

“Mallory has had an up and down college career,” Hester said. “She really turned the corner late last spring. (Assistant coach) Véro (Drouin) and I were hoping she would be able to get some good rounds in out here. Sure enough, she was able to do so and get her first win. For Mallory, college golf has been a journey. I’m happy she’s gotten a win and, you never know, she might get a few more before she finishes up.”

Silva, a freshman, posted a pair top-five finishes in two of Georgia’s first our stroke play events this season.

“Marta has been near the top of the leaderboard pretty consistently,” Hester said. “She was unhappy after Puerto Rico that she didn’t get out of there with a win. Watching her, you felt like it was only a matter of time before she won and I think she has the chance to win a lot more over her remaining three-plus years in Athens.”

In addition to Hetzel and Silva Zamora, Andrade tied for 22nd at 225, Tess Fordham tied for 83rd at 243 and Crosby was 95th at 257.

Georgia will enjoy a two-and-a-half-week break from competition before hosting the 37th annual Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic on March 27-29 at the University of Georgia Golf Course.

“We would to think we’re coming back from her with some good momentum going into the Liz Murphey where we are defending champions,” Hester said. “To get to play a tournament like the Liz on our home course is a great experience for any college golfer. Hopefully, we’ll be able to play like I know we’re capable of. We struggled out here on the first day and counted some big numbers. We’re never satisfied with finishing third, but we saw some good stuff here that will help us move forward.”

UNLV Spring Invitational
Boulder Creek Golf Club
Las Vegas, Nev.
Par 72; 6234 Yards

Wednesday’s Final Standings

Team Leaderboard
UNLV 312-283-289=884
Texas Tech 306-291-289=886
Georgia 312-292-290=894
Oregon 311-301-283=895
Washington 325-288-282=895
Kent State 319-294-288=901
Tulsa 306-302-294=902
Oregon State 317-296-296=909
Campbell 323-294-293=910
Nebraska 330-288-299=917
Brigham Young 321-303-297=921
Missouri 324-298-302=924
Fresno State 323-304-299=926
Coastal Carolina 330-304-296=930
Washington State 337-300-294=931
Idaho 334-301-299=934
SMU 325-314-297=936
UNLV (B) 326-315-309=950

Individual Leaderboard
Mallory Hetzel, Georgia 75-71-68=214
Marta Silva Zamora, Georgia 70-74-70=214
Anya Alvarez, Washington 79-69-67=215
Natasha Krishna, UNLV 77-69-70=216
Cathryn Bristow, Oreon 75-75-68=218
Natalie Gleadall, Nebraska 77-67-75=219
Ulrika van Niekerk, Texas Tech 74-70-75=219
Kayla Morteliaro, Idaho 77-72-71=220
Maggie Yuan, BYU 78-71-71=220
Martina Gavier, Kent State 80-72-69=221
Rosalyn Kim, Texas Tech 77-72-72=221
Julia Potter, Missouri 77-73-71=221

Additional Georgia Scores
T22. Carolina Andrade 81-70-74=225
T83. Tess Fordham 86-77-80=243
95. Leigh Crosby 91-89-78=257

- Georgia Sports Communications