Rainbow Wahine golfer Carolina Perez, a freshman from Colombia, had a career two days to help Hawai'i finish fifth — two shots out of third — at the 21st annual Donnis Thompson Invitational yesterday.

Tennessee, No. 14 in the Golfweek collegiate ratings, won at Kane'ohe Klipper by 38 shots. The Volunteers closed with a 4-under-par 280 (best four scores from five-player teams) to finish at 4-over 856.

Four Vols swept the top spots with sophomore Marci Turner taking medalist honors with a spectacular closing round of 7-under 64. Turner, ranked 29th nationally, was the only golfer to break par over 54 holes, at 3-under 210.

New Mexico, ranked 24th, was second (894) and 29th-ranked LSU (905) third. Notre Dame (906) was next, a shot ahead of Hawai'i (907). The Rainbow Wahine shot a season-low 295 yesterday, after opening with rounds of 310 and 302 Tuesday.

"I think it was just about time," UH coach Ashley Adleta said. "They had been working really hard, practicing things they needed to work on. They are finally becoming confident with their games and that course."

Perez, who came into the tournament with a scoring average of nearly 82, was the biggest surprise. She shot 70 in the second round — her best collegiate score by five shots — and followed up with 72 yesterday.

At 219, she took sixth — only the third Top-10 finish by a Rainbow Wahine this season (Dale Gammie had the first two). Roosevelt graduate Xyra Suyetsugu, a UH sophomore, shared 18th. She closed with a season-best 70 for a total of 227.

UH senior Tara Chappell, who played as an individual, tied for 26th at 80-230.

UH-Hilo was last in the 11-team event, at 973. Ki'ilani Matsuyoshi (76-233) led the Vulcans with a 35th-place finish.

Klipper played to 5,651 yards and par-71 due to wet conditions.