SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Stanford women's golf battled on Sunday morning as Grayhawk Golf Club proved to be a tough test for the third round of the NCAA Championships. When it was all said and done, Stanford had finished with a 2-over 290, the third-best round of the morning wave. That result was good enough to overtake Wake Forest for the top spot on the leaderboard with 18 holes left before the top eight teams are determined for match play.
The Cardinal was led by Rose Zhang, whose 1-under 71 moved her into a tie for third. Zhang is four strokes back of individual leader Catherine Park (USC).
Kelly Xu continues to climb the leaderboard after an even-par 72 and is tied for 30th.
Megha Ganne shot a 1-over 73 and is tied for 12th, while Sadie Englemann posted a 2-over 74, but finished with a birdie on No. 17 and eagle on No. 18, to move back up into a tie for 16th. Brooke Seay, playing in her second round since November for Stanford, finished with a 4-over 76.
Stanford played alongside Wake Forest, who started the day on top of the leaderboard, and South Carolina, who began the day in third. The Demon Deacons shot an 11-over 299 and the Gamecocks a 14-over 302, proving how tough a test the course was Sunday.
Following Sunday's round, the field was cut to the Top 15 teams. SMU was the last team into the Top 15, sitting at 17-over. Monday's final stroke play round will determine the Top eight teams who qualify for match play, as well as the individual national champion. There is currently a two-team tie for seventh at 5-over.
Stanford will tee off Monday's final round starting at 11:50 a.m. and play with Texas and Wake Forest, who are tied for second. GOLF Channel coverage begins at 1 p.m. PT with College Central, followed by live coverage from Grayhawk from 2-6 p.m. PT
The Cardinal looks to make match play for the eighth straight time. They are the only program in the country who has qualified for match play every year of the format, which began in 2015.
NCAA Championships (Grayhawk Golf Club, par 72)
| Name | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Stanford | 288 (E) | 273 (-15) | 290 (+2) | -- | 851 (-13) |
| T3. Rose Zhang | 72 (E) | 67 (-5) | 71 (-1) | -- | 210 (-6) |
| T12. Megha Ganne | 68 (-4) | 72 (E) | 73 (+1) | 213 (-3) | |
| T16. Sadie Englemann | 71 (-1) | 69 (-3) | 74 (+2) | -- | 214 (-2) |
| T30. Kelly Xu | 77 (+5) | 68 (-4) | 72 (E) | -- | 217 (+1) |
| --- Brooke Seay | DNP | 69 (-3) | 76 (+4) | -- | 145 (+1) |
| --- Rachel Heck | 82 (+10) | DNP | DNP | -- | 82 (+10) |