BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — CSUB women's golfer Ashley Neal shot a one-under 71 in the final round of the 73rd Annual Kern County Women's Amateur Golf Championship, effectively claiming the the tournament title Thursday at Rio Bravo Country Club.

Neal, a junior from Taft, shot a 76 on Wednesday at North Kern Golf Course, then turned in just the second sub-par score of her life, for a total score of 147. She narrowly held off first-round leader Sara Ansolabehere who finished two strokes back at 149.

Fellow Roadrunner members Meggan Bellows, the tournament champion in 2008, and Dana Arneson finished in a tie for third at 154.

With collegiate competition just around the corner, a tournament title should give Neal a boost headed into the season.

"It means a lot," said Neal in a statement Thursday. "It means my hard work definitely paid odd. I was out ever day practicing and it's just a big relief to finally have something to show for it."