Stanford, Calif.—For the 19th time in school history, the San Jose State women’s golf team is going to the NCAA Division I Championship after shooting an even-par 284 Saturday afternoon and tying for sixth place at the NCAA West Regional at the Stanford Golf Course.
The Spartans started the day in 15th place, 10 shots out of eighth place after two rounds. San Jose State then posted its best score of the tournament with a 284, the third lowest team score of the day behind top-finisher USC (280) and Purdue (283). The Spartans finished better than 10 teams ranked in the top-50 to earn a berth to the NCAA Championships on May 21-24, in Athens, Ga.
“Former Spartan coach Mark Gale always said if you were within 10 shots after day two, you have a chance to advance,” said current San Jose State coach John Dormann. “I really did not know how far behind we were. We just went into today thinking about playing well. This just shows you never know what can happen.”
Teeing off at noon as the top-12 teams were finishing their rounds, San Jose State started on a torrid pace and got to as low as seven-under over the first six holes. Making the turn, the Spartans were five-under on the day and among the top-eight teams.
“You don’t start the day thinking you can make it to nationals, especially early in the round. I am proud we got off to a good start and were fighting. We carried that momentum all the way to the final hole. Today is a good day for the San Jose State women’s golf program.”
Regan De Guzman continued her steady play at the regional, shooting a one-under 70 in the final round and finished tied for fifth at one-under 211. After making a par on hole #1, she made birdies on #2 (15-foot putt) and #4 (20-foot putt) to go to two-under. De Guzman made a bogey on #6 to fall back to one under, made six consecutive pars before a bogey at #13 put her back to even par. She then finished the round with a birdie on the par-5, #16 and pars on #17 and #18 to clinch the berth to the championship.
“I just wanted to help my team today,” said De Guzman. “My plan was to maintain my score and put my team in an okay position. I wasn’t even aware of other player’s scores because I told coach I did not want to know. I am just excited that we were able to do this.”
One key to De Guzman’s success at the regional was a change made to her driver this past week. On Saturday it showed as she hit 13 of 14 fairways.
“Regan’s new driver was awesome for her,” said Dormann. “Last weekend, Regan did not feel right with her driver and thought she needed a new one. Luckily, (Spartan) men’s coach John Kennaday had an extra stiff driver. We tried it out on Tuesday, and she used it all weekend.”
Megan Osland rebounded from her first two days and shot a two-under 69 to finish 50th at 224. It was her fourth under-par round this season including the second this spring semester at the Stanford Golf Course (68, Peg Barnard Invite in Feb.)
She started her round solidly with birdies on her first two holes and followed that with nine pars before a birdie on #12 sent her to three-under. A bogey on #14 and four straight pars gave Osland her 69.
“I had a different focus today compared to the last two days,” said Osland. “I was a lot calmer on the course and focused on every shot. I hit a lot of greens and fairways today, something I had not been doing in the other two rounds. The early birdies helped me, and my putts started dropping.
“I am really proud of the team. We went out there today with nothing to lose, pulled together and played the way we know how. We have been grinding it out all year, and we are so happy.”
Rachelle Reali continued her steady play at the regional as she shot a 74 on Saturday to finish at 226, good for 60th place. She was one-under par after nine holes with birdies on #7 and #9, but bogeys on #10 and #18 and a double-bogey on #13 left her at three-over par.
Jennifer Brumbaugh was steady for the team with a 71 Saturday. She made consecutive birdies on #5, #6 and #7 and was two-under through nine holes. Brumbaugh went to three-under par with a birdie on #12, but a double bogey on #13 and a bogey on 14, followed by four pars, left her at 71. She finished the regional at 231, good for 81st.
Kathleen Rojas rounded out the Spartan scoring with an 81. She started strong with birdies on two of her first five holes and was even at the turn before finishing the last nine at +10. Rojas was 108th at the regional at 239.
“I am really proud of this team,” said Dormann. “They played relaxed today. I knew we had birdies stored up for this tournament after the past two days (14 made on Saturday). We rallied after leaving a lot of shots on #13 today. That was the only hole on the day where we had big numbers. We did not get rattled like we had the past couple of days and rallied from that.
“It is always great to go to the championship and is incredible that it came down to one shot. We came out on the right side this year after being on the wrong side a few years ago. You have to go out and earn your spot one of the eight best. My team proved that we can be among the elite of our sport. I am really proud of them. Now we need to get to work and get ready for nationals.”
San Jose State will travel to Athens, Ga., for the 2013 NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championships, May 21-24, at the University of Georgia Golf Course.