From June 17 to August 9, GoMatadors.com will present the top CSUN Moments from the 2023-24 sports season. Today’s moment features the CSUN women’s golf team which set numerous program records during the 2023-24 season.
The CSUN women’s golf set numerous team records during the 2023-24 season while posting its best team finish at the Big West Championship since 2019. Matador freshman Nicole Tanoue was named honorable mention on the All-Big West Team while receiving significant contributions from every member of the team.
The Matadors concluded the 2023-24 season with three top five finishes and four top 10 showings. CSUN closed the season with a sixth place finish at the Big West Championship in Las Vegas, its best finish since 2019 when CSUN finished as runners-up to Long Beach State. Sophomore Gracie Piar posted her best Big West Championship finish, tying for 10th to lead CSUN.
“For us to jump from last place to 6th place (close to 5th) in the span of a year is nothing short of impressive,” said head coach Michelle Winkler following the championship. “This team has so much untapped potential, and we are just scratching the surface. This year was so much fun – it just shows you how much positive energy and cohesiveness really do affect a team. We are a family and will continue to strengthen our relationships within the team. This is how we operate and how we will win. CSUN has so much to offer from an educational and athletic standpoint – it won’t be long until recruits begin to notice this fact. I am so incredibly proud to be the CSUN women’s golf coach.”
CSUN reached the program record book for 18 holes a total of six times this season. The Matadors fired a season-best 1-under 287 in the final round of the Rainbow Wahine Invitational, the third-best total for a single round in program history. CSUN also set the 36-hole program record with a 588 at the season opening Timpanogos Collegiate Invitational in September.
In addition to Tanoue and Piar, freshman Meghan Paracuelles posted her first collegiate win at the Utah Tech Trailblazer Invitational. With season scoring averages of 76.06 or better, Tanoue (75.03), Piar (75.84), and Kim Turgut (76.06) all reached the CSUN top 10.
Tanoue became the first Matador golfer since Brianna Steger in 2019 to earn All-Big West accolades. She became the 26th player in program history to earn all-conference honors dating back to 1998. A freshman from Honolulu, Hawai’i, Tanoue led CSUN in scoring this season averaging 75.03 strokes per round. She posted four top 10 finishes this season in addition to one top 20 finish. Tanoue fired a season-low round of 7-under 65 in her first collegiate round Sept. 10 at the Timpanagos Collegiate Invitational in Provo, Utah. She would go on to finish third in the event with a three round total of 9-under 207, also CSUN’s best 54-hole score of the season.
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