SUGAR GROVE, Ill. – For the third consecutive year, the Stanford women's golf team has advanced to match play in the NCAA Championships.
The top-ranked Cardinal took care of business Monday at breezy but sunny Rich Harvest Farms by finishing second in the 54-hole medal play competition. Led by freshmen Andrea Lee and Albane Valenzuela, Stanford posted a score of 8-over 296 to finish at 41-over 905 to earn the No. 2 seed.
Northwestern placed first at 33-over 897.
In a rematch of the thrilling 2015 NCAA final, the Cardinal will face No. 7 seed Baylor (53 over, 917) in the quarterfinals on Tuesday at 7 a.m. CT. Stanford rallied for a 3-2 sudden death victory to secure the program's first national title.
"They're tough and will be highly motivated," said Anne Walker, the Margot and Mitch Milias Director of Women's Golf. "We'll have to be ready to play but are excited for the challenge."
Tuesday's winner advances to the afternoon semifinals against the Arizona State-Florida winner. The other matches are Northwestern vs. Kent State and Ohio State vs. USC.
The finals will be played Wednesday.
Competing with three freshmen (Madie Chou) in the lineup, the Cardinal maneuvered carefully around the long, treacherous course on Monday and avoided big numbers. Lee led the way with an even-par 72 to garner sixth with a score of 4-over 220.
She has recorded three victories and nine top 10s in 11 starts this season.
Valenzuela, coming off her first collegiate win at the NCAA Albuquerque Regional, closed with a 73 and tied for 10th at 7-over 223.
Stanford's depth showed, as senior Casey Danielson (76) tied for 45th at 15-over 231, followed by junior Shannon Aubert (75, t-57) and Chou (76, t-89).
Monica Vaughn of Arizona State was the individual medalist with a score of 1-over 217.
Danielson and Aubert will be playing in NCAA match play for the third straight year. In 2016, they helped Stanford win the stroke play qualifying and reach the finals against Washington. The Cardinal staged a great comeback but succumbed 3-2 in sudden death.
To follow live scoring, visit GoStanford.com.
Monday's quarterfinals:
7:00 a.m. – Shannon Aubert (S) vs. Maggie Beth Byers (B)
7:10 a.m. – Albane Valenzuela (S) vs. Dylan Kim (B)
7:20 a.m. – Andrea Lee (S) vs. Maria Vesga (B)
7:30 a.m. – Casey Danielson (S) vs. Fiona Liddell (B)
7:40 a.m. – Madie Chou (S) vs. Amy Lee (B)
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
Andrea Lee, sixth, 2017
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
Albane Valenzuela, t-10, 2017
Mhairi McKay, t-10th, 1996