San Jose State, Tulsa Advance To NCAA Women's Golf Championship
The league's Player of the Year Stacy Prammanasudh, who began the day in first place, finished second overall.
DENVER - The San Jose State and Tulsa women's golf teams placed in the top eight at the NCAA East and Central Regionals, respectively, to qualify for the national championships to be held May 22-25 at the Mission Inn Golf and Tennis Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.
The Hurricane held off host Purdue and captured the team championship at the NCAA Central Regionals at the Kampen Golf Course on May 12. Entering the final round with a four-stroke advantage, Tulsa shot a 313 to claim a two-stroke victory over the Boilermakers. The victory was the second straight team title for the Hurricane, who captured a 25-stroke victory at the WAC Championships in late April.
The league's Player of the Year Stacy Prammanasudh, who began the day in first place, finished second overall. Her 54-hole total of 2-over-par 218 was just two strokes behind individual medallist Kari Damron from Purdue.
Prammanasudh's second-place finish was her ninth top-10 performance in 10 tournaments this year, and her sixth top-five finish of the season. For the second consecutive tournament, freshman Suzie Fisher finished in fourth-place overall, this time with an 8-over-par 224. It was also her fourth top-10 performance of the season.
Tulsa and Purdue advanced to the NCAA Championships along with third-place Texas, fourth-place Oklahoma State and New Mexico State, sixth-place LSU, seventh-place Kent State and eighth-place California.
With a surge on the final six holes, San Jose State placed seventh and earned a spot at nationals. In a three-way tie for eighth entering the final round, the Spartans carded a 300 to move into sole possession of seventh place in the East Regional held at the Finely Golf Course in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Georgina Simpson, who led the charge down the stretch, paced the Spartans with a 27th-place effort, having shot an 11-over-par 227. Marcela Leon, an all-WAC second team selection, entered the clubhouse in 30th place with a 12-over-par 228.
Also advancing from the East were team champion Duke, runner-up Auburn, third-place Georgia, fourth-place South Florida, fifth-place New Mexico, sixth-place South Carolina and eighth-place Pepperdine.
Both Nevada and TCU failed to make the cut, as the Wolf Pack placed 13th in the West Regional and the Horned Frogs finished in 11th behind San Jose State in the East. Nevada was led by Katy Joslin's 24th-place outing. Sophomore Shannon Barr, who tied for 10th, was TCU's highest finisher and may qualify for the championships as an individual.