May 12, 2012
ERIE, Colo. -- - Mission accomplished.
A fifth place tie at the West Regionals at the Colorado National Golf Club advanced Stanford to the NCAA Women's Golf Championships to be held later this month in Franklin, Tenn.
The Cardinal, which entered the day leading the field by one stroke in the team competition, settled for a final round 299 (+11) to finish 15-over for the 54-hole event, earning a fifth place tie with the Baylor Bears.
Both teams finished six strokes behind UCLA and LSU, which tied for the team title at 873 (+9).
The Pepperdine Waves shot a final round 279 (-9) to finish third at 875, tied with host Colorado.
North Carolina (880; +16) and Oklahoma (890; +26) earned the final two spots from the regional into the NCAA Championship field. Pac-12 champion California (893) and Texas Tech tied for ninth place, three strokes outside of the cutline.
Junior Sally Watsonturned in her third consecutive round of 71 to tie for fourth place at 213 (-3), four strokes behind medalist Catherine O'Donnell of North Carolina, who finished at 209 (-7).
Austin Ernst of LSU finished second, one stroke off the lead at 210 (-6) while Baylor's Hayley Davis finished third at 212 (-4).
Watson was one-under on her round before she ran into trouble on the par-5 15th hole, where she made a double bogey. She came right back with a birdie on the par-3 16th hole and closed out her round with another birdie on the par-4 18th for a final score of 71.
Sydney Burlison, whose opening round 67 on Thursday set the tone for the team for all three days of the tournament, tied for 10th place at 218 (-2) after shooting a final round 77.
Mariko Tumangantied for 28th at 221 (+5) after shooting a 75 on Saturday.
Marissa Mar tied for 59th at 227 after closing with a 76 while Kristina Wongtied for 104th at 235 after a final round 79.
Stanford will join the field at the NCAA Championships, to be hosted by Vanderbilt University, May 22-25 at the Legends Club in Franklin, Tenn.