ATLANTA, Ga. – The No. 3-ranked Stanford women’s golf team concluded the fall season on a strong note Tuesday by beating Baylor, 4-0-1 in the consolation finals of the inaugural East Lake Cup at East Lake Golf Club.
There wasn’t as much drama in a rematch of last season’s NCAA Championship title match, as the Cardinal won four of five matches and halved the other.
Prior to facing Baylor, the team completed Monday’s rain-delayed semifinal match against No. 2 Duke, losing 4-1. The lone winner for Stanford was senior Mariah Stackhouse, who beat Virginia Elena Carter, 2 and 1.
In other matches, Gabriel Singh of Duke defeated sophomore Shannon Aubert, 3 and 2; Leona Maguire of Duke defeated senior Lauren Kim, 2 and 1; Celine Boutier of Duke defeated junior Casey Danielson, 4 and 3; and Sandy Choi of Duke defeated junior Quirine Eijkenboom, 4 and 3.
Stanford quickly regrouped against Baylor. Starting first off the 10th tee, Stackhouse secured a hard-fought halve against Laura Lonardi of Baylor. Stackhouse, who grew up in Riverdale, Georgia and drew support from family and friends, was 1-down after 12 holes, won the 13th hole and halved the last five.
Kim came out strong by winning the first three holes against Lauren Whyte and cruised to a 6 and 5 victory. She was 5-up at the turn and never looked back.
Eijkenboom also staged a fast start by winning the first two holes against Louise Gateau-Chovelon, emerging with a 5 and 3 triumph. She was 3-up after nine holes, then increased her lead to 4-up by winning the 12th hole.
Danielson pulled away from Giovana Maymon by claiming the 10th, 11th and 12th holes in a 3 and 2 win. She clinched the match by winning the 16th hole.
Aubert had a seesaw battle with Maggie Beth Byers that saw the duo tie only three holes on the front nine. Aubert finished strong by winning the 14th and 15th holes to post a 1-up victory.
Top-ranked USC beat Duke, 4-1-0 to win the championship, which featured 2015 men’s and women’s semifinalists. Illinois defeated Georgia, 3-1-1 to take the men’s title.
Stanford won two of four tournaments in the fall, prevailing in the season-opening Branch Law Firm Invitational and Stanford Intercollegiate. In the latter, the Cardinal beat second-place USC by seven shots.
Stanford returns to competition on February 13-14, 2016, when it hosts the Peg Barnard Invitational.