NCAA Record Breakers

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – No. 1 Stanford women's golf set a new NCAA record for 54 holes and won the 2022 Gunrock Invitational at 50-under (814). Stanford bested LSU's previous NCAA record of 46-under and surpassed the previous school record (-28) by 22 strokes. The Cardinal's 35-stroke victory was its largest margin of victory in program history.
 
Sophomore Rachel Heck claimed individual medalist honors at 18-under, a new school record. The victory was Heck's eighth in the last 365 days, moving just one off Andrea Lee's school record of nine career wins.

Hear from Coach Walker after her team's record-setting performance at the Gunrock Invitational! #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/AAGAZXeNyr

— Stanford Women's Golf (@StanfordWGolf) March 1, 2022

 
Freshman Rose Zhang finished runner-up to Heck at 14-under, the fourth-best mark in program history for 54 holes. Zhang had 40 pars, 12 birdies, an eagle and just one bogey over 54 holes to claim her fifth consecutive Top-5 finish to begin her collegiate career.
 

.@rachelheck2020 and Rose Zhang react to an incredible week at the Gunrock Invitational and @DelPasoCC!#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/UYqJnbMX3f

— Stanford Women's Golf (@StanfordWGolf) March 2, 2022

Sophomore Sadie Englemann finished fourth, her highest career mark in a multi-round event. She set a new personal record with a 9-under for the tournament and tied her career-best round on Tuesday with a 4-under 68. Englemann has now finished tied for sixth or better in three straight events.
 
Playing as an individual, junior Brooke Seay finished tied for fifth and her 8-under was a career-best.
 
The Cardinal will return to action next Monday and Tuesday at the Juli Inkster Invitational.
 
Notables

• Stanford set the NCAA team, 54-hole record at 50-under, surpassing LSU's 46-under set in April of 2021. The Cardinal's first round (-23) and third round (-16) were the two best scores to par in program history, respectively, while its second round (-11) was tied for the sixth best.
• Rachel Heck set the school, 54-hole individual record at 18-under, which was tied for the third-best in NCAA history. Her first round 69 (-9) was tied for the second-best round to par in program history.
• Heck claimed her eighth career victory, and second consecutive Gunrock Invitational title. All eight of Heck's wins have come in the last 365 days, as her first career win at the 2021 Gunrock Invitational came on March 2, 2021.
• Not to be outdone, freshman Rose Zhang finished second at 14-under, the fourth-best 54-hole score in program history. Zhang finished her 54 holes with 40 pars, 12 birdies, 1 eagle and just 1 bogey.
• In six team events this season, Stanford has claimed five full-field victories and had five individual winners (Zhang – 3; Heck – 2).
• Stanford's 35-stroke margin of victory set a new school record, besting the 30-stroke margin of victory at the 2021 NCAA Regionals at Stanford Golf Course.

 
Quotes from Anne Walker
On NCAA scoring record and the team as a whole: "I don't even have words for this. It's so exciting and this team deserves it. We have so many great players top to bottom so to come here and set this record, I'm excited for them, excited for Del Paso the course. I don't have great words for it but I'm really proud of them. It feels great to bounce back after San Diego State. It felt like we were a little rusty coming out of the break. I believe in the system that we have in place. These kids are really strong. Not only are they talented, they're fighters. Sometimes you're fighting for a 65 and sometimes you're fighting for a 75, but when you have a lot of fight in you good things are going to happen."

On Rachel Heck's school record: "It's great to see the Rachel Heck that we had here last spring. She's so happy. She's hitting every shot very loose and confident and relaxed. She's having a great time with the game. To see her get her eighth win today, and I know there's plenty more ahead, I'm excited to be part of this. "

On Rose Zhang's tournament: "What more can be said about Rose? She's so steady and I know she's disappointed this week. And that says it all, the fact that Rose is disappointed in the way she played and she has the fourth-best score in school history. It speaks volumes about who she is as a player that she can come out here with her B game and still be right on Rachel's heels until the end. She's got great things ahead of her."

 

Gunrock Invitational (Del Paso Country Club, par 72)