PALOS VERDES ESTATES, Calif. – Competing just down the coast from her family home in Hermosa Beach, Stanford junior Andrea Lee wanted desperately to claim her seventh collegiate victory in front of family and friends on Tuesday at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge at Palos Verdes Golf Club.
Playing in cold, wet and windy conditions, she emerged with a pressure-packed one-stroke triumph and led the No. 5 Cardinal to a two-shot win against a stellar field in the first tournament of the spring season.
Lee finished third last year.
"We all loved seeing Andrea take the title in her backyard, a memory that will stick with her for a lifetime," said Anne Walker, the Margot and Mitch Milias Director of Women's Golf.
Lee, a two-time WGCA first team All-America, closed with a 2-over 73 to finish the 54-hole event at even par 213, one stroke better than Yu-Sang Hou of Arizona and Agathe Laisne of Texas.
Lee won three times as a freshman and three times as a sophomore. Her seven program victories are one shy of the program record of eight set by Mhairi McKay in 1994-97.
In four starts this season, Lee is a combined 13-under and hasn't finished outside the top-5. She has broken par in eight of 10 rounds.
Lee has teed it up for Stanford in 28 tournaments during her career and has seven wins, 24 top-10s and 19 top-5s.
"It feels incredible to get the team and individual win," Lee said. "I'm so proud of all of us for grinding out there and staying patient. I really had to hang in there today and I'm glad I was able to pull it off."
Winning for the second time this season, the Cardinal began the last round with a six-shot cushion over UCLA. Stanford held off challenges by the No. 12 Bruins and top-ranked USC to finish the job, shooting 9-over on Tuesday to conclude at 15-over 867.
"This win ranks top-five all-time for the program," said Walker. "The field was loaded and the conditions were incredibly difficult. The team played with purpose every day, hit awesome shots and saved incredible pars."
Paced by Lee (nine) and junior Albane Valenzuela (eight), Stanford led the 16-team field in birdies with 40.
In addition to Lee, two other Stanford competitors placed in the top-16. Valenzuela (73) tied for eighth at 4-over 217 and junior Ziyi Wang (74) posted a share of 16th at 7-over 220.
The Cardinal received a big lift from sophomore Kelsey Zeng, who recorded a final-round 73 and tied for 63rd. Sophomore Mika Liu (78) tied for 23rd at 9-over 222.
Stanford's last team triumph came in late October at the prestigious East Lake Cup in Atlanta.
The Cardinal returns to competition on Feb. 25-26 at the Bruin Wave Invitational at San Luis Obispo Country Club in San Luis Obispo, Calif.