The No. 8 Arizona women’s golf team finished in eighth place at the Arizona Wildcat Invitational yesterday, 39 strokes behind champion ASU.

It was Arizona’s second consecutive eighth-place finish at its own tournament.

The Wildcats carded a final day 301, 17 over par, led by No. 7 junior Alison Walshe, who shot a 2-over 73. She shot a 9-over 222 for the tournament to tie for 17th place.

No. 32 sophomore Adriana Zwanck and No. 35 junior Mary Jacobs failed to build on their seventh- and eighth-place finishes, respectively, at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., on Feb. 14.

Jacobs finished tied for 23rd with a 12-over 225, and Zwanck tied for 39th after shooting a 17-over 230.

“”Our top three this week never seemed to get it going for whatever reason,”” said UA head coach Greg Allen.

Said Zwanck: “”My main problem is that I wasn’t comfortable with my swing all week. I need some lessons, and I need to work with my swing to make it better.””

Sophomore Amanda Wilson shot a 75, 79 and 76 to finish tied for 39th for the tournament, turning in more consistent scores than Arizona has received of late from its No. 4 position.

“”She didn’t finish the way she wanted to, but I was really encouraged by the way she played this week.”” Allen said.

Freshman Emily Mason finished tied for 62nd.

Freshmen Marisa Smith and Brittany Benvenuto, along with sophomore Brooke Schneider, competed in the tournament only as individuals. They were vying for the team’s final available lineup spot for the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational in Honolulu, Hawaii, on March 20-21.

Smith finished 70th and Benvenuto tied for 74th, while Schneider, batting the stomach flu all three rounds, ended up in 81st.

“”It’s just a matter of who’s going to go out there and be consistent,”” said Smith, who shot a final-day 76. “”Coach is looking for people who come early in the morning and stay after practice and for people who are grinding out there.””

Duke’s Amanda Blumenherst won the individual title, shooting 3 under par for the tournament. She finished four shots ahead of ASU’s Anna Nordqvist of ASU and USC’s Dewi Schreefel.

Allen said the Wildcats’ performance was “”only a respectable finish.””