STANFORD, Calif. – No. 1 Stanford women's golf posted a 7-under 277 during Tuesday's second round of the NCAA Regional at Stanford Golf Course and sits in second with 18 holes left to play on Wednesday. The Cardinal is at 8-under for the tournament and currently 16 strokes clear of the cutline. USC leads the field at 12-under, LSU is in third at 5-under and Purdue and Northwestern are tied for fourth at 8-over. The top four teams after Wednesday's round will advance to NCAA Championships at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale beginning May 20.
"Obviously we're in position to have a run at the title, but that to us is not important," Margot and Mitch Milias Director of Women's Golf Anne Walker said of tomorrow's round. "What we need to be working on right now is channeling the mentality that we had today. We need to have patient acceptance that the golf ball is going to do what the golf ball is going to do, but if we can just accept the result and move on to the next one, we are good enough that we are always going to have great looks."
Senior Aline Krauter led the way for Stanford on Tuesday with a 4-under 67 to move into a tie for fourth. For Krauter, it tied her best career round in relation to par and was her 12th career round in the 60s. Krauter has finished in the Top 10 in five events this season and been inside the Top 16 in all eight events she has played.
"I didn't really have a message (after yesterday's round), Aline Krauter had a message (to the team)," Walker said. "She just shared how she was feeling (yesterday) and I think that landed really well with the younger kids. Today they came out feeling more comfortable the way they did at the end of yesterday and that was key.
"It's just been really fun to watch (Aline) over the course of four years. Her shots in general, they're better than they've ever been, but her patience is higher and she understands the game really well. They're not all going to fall, but if you just wait, one or two will start falling and then you'll have a day like this. I'm not surprised we're seeing her right there again."
Krauter's 3-under 139 is matched by freshman Rose Zhang, who fired a 1-under 70 in the second round to put two Cardinal inside the Top 5 heading into the final round on Wednesday. Tuesday marked Zhang's 22nd round (out of 26) this season at even-par or better.
Sophomore Sadie Englemann fired a 2-under 69 on Tuesday, her best round since March 1 and is tied for 10th with teammate Brooke Seay at even-par through two rounds. All four Cardinal scorers were even-par or better today, thanks to an even-par 71 from substitute Caroline Sturdza.
"She was awesome," Walker said of Sturdza. "She subbed in late, got to the first tee with 20 minutes notice and goes driver, three wood to 20 feet for eagle, and I think that set the tone for her. It was a really comforting first hole. I'm very proud of her.
"It's one thing to come out here and play great, but the other thing she's done is stay ready with the unknown each day. She's working really hard. She gets a ton of credit for that and that's why she was able to play well today."
For the third straight day, Stanford will play with USC and LSU on Wednesday. The Cardinal, Trojans and Tigers will go off the first tee beginning at 9:06 a.m.
NCAA Stanford Regional (Stanford Golf Course, par 71)
| Name | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2. Stanford | 283 (-1) | 277 (-7) | -- | 560 (-8) |
| T4. Rose Zhang | 69 (-2) | 70 (-1) | -- | 139 (-3) |
| T4. Aline Krauter | 72 (+1) | 67 (-4) | -- | 139 (-3) |
| T10. Brooke Seay | 69 (-2) | 73 (+2) | -- | 142 (E) |
| T10. Sadie Englemann | 73 (+2) | 69 (-2) | -- | 142 (E) |
| SUB. Caroline Sturdza | DNP | 71 (E) | -- | 71 (E) |
| SUB. Rachel Heck | 75 (+4) | DNP | -- | 75 (+4) |