STANFORD, Calif. – Three players broke par on Friday to lift Stanford into first place after two rounds of the NCAA Regional Championships at cool and rainy Stanford Golf Course.
Junior Casey Danielson shot a 3-under 68 while senior Mariah Stackhouse and sophomore Shannon Aubert posted 70s to lead the defending national champion Cardinal to a four-player score of 4-under 280. It was the lowest total so far in the 54-hole regional and left No. 12 Stanford at 1-over 569, two strokes ahead of No. 2 USC (571). The Trojans shot 284 on Friday.
“I’m very pleased,” said Anne Walker, the Margot and Mitch Milias Director of Women’s Golf. “Really spectacular golf on a difficult day. A lot of quality shots were hit and a lot of great putts were made. Everyone stayed really steady.”
Eighteen teams and six individuals are competing. The final round will be played Saturday, with the top six teams and three individuals not members of the low six schools advancing to the NCAA Championships, May 20-25 at Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Oregon.
Six teams will start the last round within five strokes of sixth-place North Carolina at 23-over 591.
Stackhouse made two birdies and only one bogey, playing the back nine in 1-under, and is tied for first at 3-under 139 with Alana Uriell of Arkansas, who fired a tournament-best 67. The latter made six birdies, including all four par-3s.
“I just focused really hard on driving the ball solid, putting it in good places and hitting the greens,” Stackhouse said. “I think I had nine putts inside five feet and made them all.”
Danielson recorded four birdies and toured the front nine in 2-under 33 and is tied for third at 2-under 140. She made eight pars and a birdie on the back nine.
“I actually enjoy playing in the rain,” said Danielson, who drove the ball well and birdied both par-5s on the front nine. “You just have to embrace it. I think as a team we did a good job of grinding it out.”
Aubert played the last 14 holes in 3-under and fired a 2-under 34 on the back nine. She is tied for eighth at 1-over 143.
Senior Lauren Kim collected four birdies and is tied for 30th at 6-over 148, while freshman Sierra Kersten (75) is tied for 44th at 8-over 150.
Stanford starts Saturday at 9:20 a.m. PT on the first tee with USC and Arkansas. The championship is open to the public and admission is free.
“We have put ourselves in good position,” Walker said. “Maybe the conversation changes from making it to maybe winning the championship.”
For live scoring, go to GoStanford.com.