SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Stanford women's golf fired the best round in NCAA Championships history on Saturday morning, leaping into second following a 15-under 273. The Cardinal is two shots back of leader, Wake Forest, and one shot ahead of third place South Carolina. Following Sunday's round, the field will be cut to the Top 15 teams and that line is currently 8-over, while the eighth-place cutline following Monday's round currently sits at 2-under.
The Cardinal's previous best round at NCAA Championships was an 11-under 277 in the third round of the 2021 NCAA Championships at Grayhawk. The 15-under round is tied for Stanford's fourth-best round in program history.
Rose Zhang led the way with a flawless 5-under 67 to climb 30 spots. She is tied for sixth and among the Top 5 in the field playing the Par 4s at 3-under through 36 holes. Sadie Englemann (3-under 69) and Megha Ganne (even-par 72) are both inside the Top 10 at 4-under through 36 holes. Englemann is 7-under on the Par 5s this week to lead the tournament.
Kelly Xu climbed 68 spots up the leaderboard on Saturday and is tied for 49th following a 4-under 68, tied for the best round of her young career. She is 6-under over the last 21 holes.
Senior Brooke Seay, competing in her first round for Stanford since November, carded a 3-under 69 on Saturday in place of Rachel Heck, who played in the lineup Friday.
Stanford had 26 birdies against just 11 bogeys on Saturday. The Cardinal is 16-under on the Par 5s through two rounds, best in the field. Stanford was a combined 13-under on the four Par 5s Saturday with 13 birdies and no bogeys. In total, the Cardinal has 38 birdies, tied with Oklahoma State for most in the 30-team field.
Stanford will tee off at 6:10 a.m. once again Sunday, playing alongside Wake Forest and South Carolina.
NCAA Championships (Grayhawk Golf Club, par 72)
| Name | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2. Stanford | 288 (E) | 273 (-15) | -- | -- | 561 (-15) |
| T6. Rose Zhang | 72 (E) | 67 (-5) | -- | -- | 139 (-5) |
| T9. Sadie Englemann | 71 (-1) | 69 (-3) | -- | -- | 140 (-4) |
| T9. Megha Ganne | 68 (-4) | 72 (E) | -- | -- | 140 (-4) |
| T49. Kelly Xu | 77 (+5) | 68 (-4) | -- | -- | 145 (+1) |
| --- Brooke Seay | -- | 69 (-3) | -- | -- | 69 (-3) |
| --- Rachel Heck | 82 (+10) | -- | -- | -- | 82 (+10) |