Arizona women's golf coach Giovana Maymon didn't take long to put her stamp on her new program.
In her Wildcat coaching debut, Maymon's team took first place at the Folds of Honor Collegiate Wednesday afternoon in Grand Haven, Michigan.
Maymon, the only UA women's golf coach to win their opening tournament, was introduced as the UA's head coach on June 24. That came after former Arizona coach and alumni, Laura Ianello, left for Texas just a few weeks earlier.
"I just have fighters, Maymon told Golf Channel after the tournament. "They never give up."
"This is special," she added. "It's the first one and I'm so thankful to be at Arizona. These kids are special for me."
Arizona first-year women's golf coach Giovana Maymon and UA senior golfer Carolina Melgrati
Arizona put up the best team round Wednesday shooting 6 under par for the day. The Wildcats started out the three-day tournament one stroke behind Florida State on Monday, then were in first place after Tuesday's round and won by three strokes over the Seminoles, who finished a cumulative 7 over par. UA finished at 4 over (868), Ohio State took third at 16 over and three teams — Texas, Baylor and Michigan State — tied at 19 over par.
UA senior Carolina Melgrati led the Wildcats at 4 under for the tournament, shooting 1 over in the final round to finish in second place. She was leading the individual portion coming into Wednesday, but FSU's Mirabel Ting carded three birdies on the front nine as Melgrati shot even par to make the difference.
Arizona sophomore Charlotte Back tied for sixth overall at 1 over. Sophomore Nena Wongthanavimok finished in a three-way tie for 11th at 4 over and senior Lilas Pinthier finished in a three-way tie for 21st at 6 over par.
Next up for the Wildcats is a trip to Franklin, Tennessee, for the Mason Rudolph Championship on The Legends Golf Club, Sept. 20.
