May 11, 2013
NCAA Regional Final Round Results
STANFORD, Calif. - After posting a six-over-par 290, No. 11 Stanford checked in fifth on Saturday in the final round of the NCAA D1 Women's Golf West Regional at Stanford Golf Course.
The Cardinal advances to the NCAA Championship along with No. 1 USC, No. 9 Purdue, No. 8 Vanderbilt, No. 34 South Carolina, No. 5 Arizona, No. 41 Oregon and No. 56 San Jose State.
"We are thrilled to advance to NCAAs," said Anne Walker, Stanford's Margot and Mitch Milias Director of Women's Golf. "Going into this week, we wanted to win but after our slow start, we are more than happy with our finish."
USC (290-289-280-859, +7) edged the Boilermakers (291-286-283-860, +8) by one stroke for their sixth season victory and ninth regional title, both school records.
The Commodores (289-289-291-869, +17) checked in third, while the Gamecocks (296-285-293-874, +22) and the Cardinal (301-284-290-875, +23) round out the top five.
There was a three-way tie for sixth between the Wildcats (300-298-291), Ducks (292-297-300) and Spartans (301-304-284) who all finished at 889 (+37).
Georgia's Emilie Burger and Kent State's Jennifer Ha are the two individuals advancing to the finals. Burger (68-75-69) finished in seventh after recording a one-under 212, while Ha (73-68-73) took eighth at 214.
With a three-over-par 216 Mariko Tumangan (74-70-72) led the Cardinal with a tie for 10th, while Mariah Stackhouse (75-69-73) tied for 14th at 217.
"Regionals wasn't my greatest performance of the year, but our main goal was accomplished," Stackhouse said. "Now there is nothing to protect. Nationals is the last tournament of the season, and now we have nothing to lose and I can't wait to leave everything I have out there on the course."
"It means a lot to me that my first National Championship will be played in my home state of Georgia," Stackhouse continued. "I played there a couple of times when I was younger and I've watched the Liz Murphy Collegiate Classic quite a few times. It's a tough course, and the greens can be punishing. It will be a true test of course management."
One stroke behind Stackhouse was Lauren Kim (74-71-73) who finished in 218, tying for 18th.
Senior Sally Watson (81-74-72), who improved each day of regionals, tied for 65th at 227.
Junior Danielle Frasier (78-79-73) posted an overall 230 to tie for 77th.
"To win, we are going to have to play our best golf," Walker said. "There are a bunch of strong teams at NCAAs this year. Alabama, Duke and USC have all earned strong recognition as contenders. However, as with any sport, an underdog can get on a roll and pull off a victory and what's what we are going for. It will be tough. A long week and a hard golf course, this will be our toughest challenge yet."
The teams and individuals advancing will compete at the University of Georgia Golf Course in Athens, Georgia on May 21-24, 2013.