Tuesday, February 24
Valencia, Calif.
Oregon State
vs
Bruin Wave Invitational
Photo by: Karl Maasdam/Oregon State Athletics
Kate Nakaoka Leads Beavers At Bruin Wave Invitational
February 24, 2026 | Women's Golf
VALENCIA, Calif. – Kate Nakaoka posted a career-best score to lead the Oregon State women's golf team at the Bruin Wave Invitational on Tuesday.
The Beavers finished in fifth place in the 14-team field with a 32-over 292-303-301—896 at the par-72, 6,328-yard Valencia Country Club.
It's the second time in two spring tournaments Oregon State has recorded a Top 5 finish.
Nakaoka, a true freshman from Mililani, Hawai'i, fired a career-best 3-under 69 in the first round, an even-par 72 in the second round and a 3-over 75 on the final day to finish in a tie for 11th place with an even-par 216.
She now has five Top 25 finishes in her six college tournaments – t-4th at the Molly Collegiate Invitational; t-11th at the Bruin Wave Invitational; 13th at the Leadership and Golf Invitational; t-17th at the San Diego State Classic; t-22nd at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship.
The 3-under 69 in the first round bettered Nakaoka's previous career best, a 2-under 70 in the second round of the Molly Collegiate, and the even-par 216 was a three-round best career score, bettering the 2-over 218 she carded at both the Leadership and Golf Invitational and the Molly Collegiate Invitational.
Raya Nakao, a native of Kaneohe, Hawai'i, had a tourney-best 2-under 70 in the first round that helped her finish in a tie for 18th place with a 4-over 70-77-73—220. It was the 31st sub-par score of her collegiate career with eight of them coming this junior campaign. Nakao now has four Top 20 finishes in six tournaments this season and 17 overall in her career.
Senior Kyra Ly, an All-America last season, improved her score each round to finish in a tie for 26th place with a 10-over 77-75-74—226. A senior from Portland, she had five birdies in the tournament with two each in the first and second rounds.
Kelly Hope doubled her birdie total on the final day, dropping in two after getting one in each of the first two rounds, and finished in a tie for 52nd place with a 19-over 76-79-80—235. The junior from Pretoria, South Africa competed in the second-straight tournament of the spring season.
Clara Alevag, a sophomore from Gothenburg, Sweden, rolled in eight birdies over the three rounds and finished in a tie for 61st place with a 22-over 78-81-79—238. Four of the birdies came in the first round when she posted a tourney-best 6-over 78.
No. 1 Stanford cruised to the team title with a 21-under 843, while Paula Martin Sampedro of Stanford claimed medalist honors with a 7-under 209.
The Beavers return to action next Monday, March 2 and Tuesday, March 3 at the Lady Luck Invitational in Las Vegas.
OUR MISSION
Oregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes (Go BEAVS).
The Beavers finished in fifth place in the 14-team field with a 32-over 292-303-301—896 at the par-72, 6,328-yard Valencia Country Club.
It's the second time in two spring tournaments Oregon State has recorded a Top 5 finish.
Nakaoka, a true freshman from Mililani, Hawai'i, fired a career-best 3-under 69 in the first round, an even-par 72 in the second round and a 3-over 75 on the final day to finish in a tie for 11th place with an even-par 216.
She now has five Top 25 finishes in her six college tournaments – t-4th at the Molly Collegiate Invitational; t-11th at the Bruin Wave Invitational; 13th at the Leadership and Golf Invitational; t-17th at the San Diego State Classic; t-22nd at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship.
The 3-under 69 in the first round bettered Nakaoka's previous career best, a 2-under 70 in the second round of the Molly Collegiate, and the even-par 216 was a three-round best career score, bettering the 2-over 218 she carded at both the Leadership and Golf Invitational and the Molly Collegiate Invitational.
Raya Nakao, a native of Kaneohe, Hawai'i, had a tourney-best 2-under 70 in the first round that helped her finish in a tie for 18th place with a 4-over 70-77-73—220. It was the 31st sub-par score of her collegiate career with eight of them coming this junior campaign. Nakao now has four Top 20 finishes in six tournaments this season and 17 overall in her career.
Senior Kyra Ly, an All-America last season, improved her score each round to finish in a tie for 26th place with a 10-over 77-75-74—226. A senior from Portland, she had five birdies in the tournament with two each in the first and second rounds.
Kelly Hope doubled her birdie total on the final day, dropping in two after getting one in each of the first two rounds, and finished in a tie for 52nd place with a 19-over 76-79-80—235. The junior from Pretoria, South Africa competed in the second-straight tournament of the spring season.
Clara Alevag, a sophomore from Gothenburg, Sweden, rolled in eight birdies over the three rounds and finished in a tie for 61st place with a 22-over 78-81-79—238. Four of the birdies came in the first round when she posted a tourney-best 6-over 78.
No. 1 Stanford cruised to the team title with a 21-under 843, while Paula Martin Sampedro of Stanford claimed medalist honors with a 7-under 209.
The Beavers return to action next Monday, March 2 and Tuesday, March 3 at the Lady Luck Invitational in Las Vegas.
OUR MISSION
Oregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes (Go BEAVS).
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