This post was updated Oct. 3 at 10:48 p.m.

Windy City blew in the first victory of the Bruins’ season exactly one year ago.

This year, though, those gusts instead pulled the team under.

No. 3 UCLA women’s golf was unable to defend its title at the Windy City Collegiate Classic at the Westmoreland Country Club on Monday and Tuesday. In a field that included No. 2 USC, No. 4 South Carolina and No. 10 Oregon, it was No. 12 Arizona State that rose to a breakout victory.

“It’s an off week,” said coach Alicia Um Holmes. “And you’re going to have that in golf, like historically, if you follow some of the best players on the professional circuit, no one plays well every week.”

The course was not only unfamiliar to the Bruins – 2023’s tournament was played about four miles away from this year’s – but weather and grass conditions made the tournament, particularly the final 18-hole day, difficult for the team.

Tuesday’s conditions were windier and colder than expected, making the course play longer. Additionally, the greens were firm, which demanded increased patience on each hole.

“We played a different course than we had played last year, and this course was very similar to the last course, but this one demands a lot more,” said junior Meghan Royal. “When you have those combination of elements, it can kind of create some bad shots.”

But despite a subpar weekend, freshman Francesca Fiorellini tied for 13th with an overall 5-over par score. The top-ranked Italian amateur made her collegiate debut at Windy City after being named to the 25-person ANNIKA Award Preseason/Fall Watch List.

The freshman achieved the lowest score of the Bruins, helping boost her squad to its 35-over par final ranking for eighth place.

“This is a type of course that’s right up her alley, because it requires a lot of discipline in how you approach the course,” Um Holmes said. “You really have to be selective of what clubs you’re taking off the tee, and where you’re aiming it … and I thought that was one of her strong suits.”

Alongside Fiorellini was a starting lineup of veterans, with Royal tying for 22nd, seniors Zoe Antoinette Campos and Caroline Canales tying for 43rd and senior Natalie Vo tying for 51st.

“I definitely left a couple shots out there,” Royal said. “But overall, there’s a lot of positives to take from the tournament, and I’m excited to keep my head down, keep working hard and seeing what will happen.”

The Bruins traveled back to Westwood Tuesday night following the end of the tournament, but their time in Illinois this fall is not complete.

They will make a cross-country journey for a third time in two weeks – this time to Medinah, Illinois – to compete in the Illini Women’s Invitational at Medinah this weekend.