SUGAR GROVE, Ill. – The second round of the NCAA Women's Golf Championships was cancelled Saturday due to severe weather threats all morning.
Stanford, tied for third after Friday's cold and rainy first round, was scheduled to start at 7:30 a.m. CT. However, tournament officials delayed the start for an hour to analyze approaching thunderstorms, then waited until 11 a.m. before calling it off.
As a result, the stroke play portion of the championship has been reduced to 54 holes. All 24 teams will compete Sunday and Monday, with the top eight advancing to match play Tuesday. The individual medalist will be determined following play Monday.
"I don't think it's going to be too much of a problem," said Anne Walker, the Margot and Mitch Milias Director of Women's Golf, whose players were allowed to practice at the range, short game area and putting green after the announcement. "I think we have plenty of time to get home, rest up and have a nice dinner, relax a little bit and get back out here. Everyone was a little bit fatigued this morning. It will be nice to get our sea legs back under us."
Saturday tee times will be used Sunday. The Cardinal is scheduled to tee off on the first hole from 7:30 a.m. to 8:14 a.m. CT, and the forecast calls for partly sunny skies and temperatures into the low 60s.
After the round, teams will be paired for Monday's final stroke play round according to 36-hole scores, with leaders going off last.
Like most of the field, top-ranked Stanford struggled Friday in the challenging conditions, finishing at 23-over par 311. That was 10 strokes behind leader Northwestern, who combined for 301 in the count four out of five scoring format.
The average score was 80.77 and nobody broke par.
Individually, the Cardinal was paced by Shannon Aubert, Andrea Lee and Albane Valenzuela, who shot 5-over 77s and are tied for 19th, five strokes off the lead.
Although there is one less round, Walker said her team's strategy for the long, rolling course won't change.
"I don't think it can," she said. "We just have to go out and play as smart as we can and limit the big numbers, especially since its only 54 holes."
Counting Thursday's practice round, Stanford players have now seen the course twice. Walker said that will help with familiarity, but only to a point.
"I don't know that it will play anything like it played yesterday, just because of the crazy conditions," Walker said. "It looks like the wind is going to blow in a completely different direction tomorrow. Tomorrow is still a learning day."
Walker will continue to stress good judgement and mental toughness.
"As with anything, as you lose your patience, you get testy and start forcing it," she said. "On this course, a big number will get you and every shot counts."
For live scoring, visit GoStanford.com.
Stanford Top 10 Individual Finishes
at the NCAA Championships (since 1990)
Lauren Kim, third, 2014
Audrey Wooding, third, 1992
Andrea Baxter, t-fourth, 1996
Andrea Baxter, fifth, 1995
Stephanie Keever, t-fifth, 2000
Mariah Stackhouse, sixth, 2015
Casey Danielson, t-sixth, 2016
Vicky Strada, t-sixth, 1996
Lauren Kim, t-seventh, 2015
JaeJean Ro, t-seventh, 1997
Marcia Wallis, eighth, 2002
Jodi Figley, t-eighth, 1991
Mhairi McKay, t-eighth, 1994
Stephanie Keever, ninth, 1998
Sally Watson, t-ninth, 2010
Mhairi McKay, t-ninth, 1995
Lauren Todd, t-ninth, 2007
Mhairi McKay, t-10th, 1996
