CHICAGO, Ill. – Getting clutch performances throughout the lineup, the Stanford women's golf team finished second in the season-opening Windy City Collegiate at Glen View Club on Tuesday.
The Cardinal combined for a final-round score of 3-under par 285 – the best of the day – and completed the 54-hole tournament at 6-under 858. Georgia claimed the team title at 10-under 854.
"Really proud of the team's effort this week," said Anne Walker, the Margot and Mitch Milias Director of Women's Golf. "I felt like we got contributions from everyone at different points. A lot of players stepped up."
Freshman Andrea Lee made a spectacular college debut by capturing the individual crown, the first by a Cardinal freshman since 2012 when Mariah Stackhouse won the Peg Barnard Invitational. Lee fired a 5-under 67 on Tuesday and wound up at 10-under 206, one stroke ahead of Bailey Tardy of Georgia (207).
On Monday, Lee posted rounds of 68-71.
Starting the final round four shots off the lead, Lee fashioned six birdies and saved her best for last. After sustaining her lone bogey of the day at the par-4 10th, she birdied the par-4 12th, par-3 14th, par-4 16th and par-4 18th holes, sinking a clutch 10-foot putt at the latter.
Three of Lee's late birdies (12, 14 and 16) came on holes ranked among the eight toughest Tuesday.
"Just outstanding golf," Walker said. "She was in the zone. She certainly didn't act like a freshman and she is mature beyond her years when it comes to golf. It was fun to watch and also very exciting."
Lee is believed to be the first Stanford freshman to win her first start. Her 10-under total is two shy of the 54-hole program record set by Mhairi McKay at the 1997 Pac-10 Championship. She finished at 12-under. It was also the first individual title by a Cardinal player since Stackhouse won the UC Irvine Invitational in 2014.
Lee had plenty of support in the elite 14-team tournament.
Senior Casey Danielson provided steady play and tied for 12th at even-par 216 (73-70-73). Sophomore Sierra Kersten rebounded from a first-round 79 to post sub-par rounds of 70-71 – the first of her college career – and tied for 25th with senior Jisoo Keel (74-72-74) at 4-over 220. Keel played as a freshman, but did not compete for the team the last two seasons.
Junior Shannon Aubert (76-71-76) tied for 41st at 7-over 223, but broke par in the afternoon round Monday to help Stanford make its move.
Lee led the field in birdies with 15 and was a tournament-best 4-under on the par-3s and ranked second on the par-4s at 3-under. Danielson's 10 birdies tied for 10th, while Aubert tied for third in par-5 scoring at 5-under and Keel tied for 14th in pars with 38.
Walker, whose team secured the program's first national title in 2015 and placed second last year, lost All-Americans Stackhouse and Lauren Kim to graduation.
"She helps fill a big hole," Walker said of Lee.
The Cardinal resumes competition Oct. 14-16 in the Stanford Intercollegiate at Stanford Golf Course. The talented 17-team field includes many of the top programs in the country. The event is open to the public and admission is free.
For tee times, tournament information and live scoring, visit Gostanford.com.