San Jose State 17th At NCAA Women's Golf Championships

Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.- With its best team score of the tournament in Friday's final round, San Jose State University finished 17th at the 2001 NCAA Women's Golf Championships.

The Spartans posted a 301-team score on the par 72, 6,106-yard El Campeon Golf Course at the Mission Inn Resort for a 1227 total. The 17th place finish matches the team's finish at the 1999 NCAA Women's Golf Championships, but was two spots poorer than last year's 15th place finish.

San Jose State was 15th with five holes to complete when a lightning delay forced players off the course for two hours and five minutes. When play resumed, the Spartans, only eight over par as a team, gave back five more strokes to par for the 301 score.

"I'm happy with the fact that we had our low score on the final day, but the finish is a disappointment for us," said director of golf Nancy Lewis, who had all five players break 80 for the only round of the championships. "I think there was more of a sense of urgency and we stayed in the game better than the other days."

Marcela Leon led the Spartans Friday with a season-best two-under par 70.

"Coming from an 80, it's a good thing. I prepared well this morning. My tempo was good and my goal was to play 'in the present,'" said the junior from Mexico, who had three birdies and one bogey.

Jessica Krantz finished with a 75 while Georgina Simpson, Helle Gram and Rebecka Heinmert each shot a 78.

Georgia won the team championship with an 1176 total. Defending team champion Duke, which led by four shots going into the final round, was second at 1179. Texas was third at 1191 and Auburn was fourth at 1193. UCLA and Oklahoma State tied for fifth in the 24-team field at 1194.

Duke's Candy Hannemann won a one-hole playoff over Arizona's Lorena Ochoa with a par compared to Ochoa's three-putt bogey. Both players shot a final round 69 for a three-under par 285. USC's Candie Kung and Katy Harris of Louisiana State, the third round leader, were the only other players under par tying for third at 287. Young-A Yang of Tennessee was fifth at even par 288.

Leon ended up the top Spartan finisher in 38th place 302.

The Spartans lose seniors Jessica Krantz and Georgina Simpson from the current team and have Leon, Gram, Heinmert and sophomore-to-be Ashley Gomes returning. Gram will spend her summer playing on the Faxe Tour in Denmark as well as in the Danish National Match Play and Stroke Play Championships. Leon is entered in next week's U.S. Women's Open Championship as an amateur entry and then will play in Japan later in the summer.

Final 72-hole results from the 2001 NCAA Women's Golf Championships

El Campeon Course, Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.

Par 72, 6,106 yards

1. Georgia 1176

2. Duke 1179

3. Texas 1191

4. Auburn 1193

5. UCLA 1194

Oklahoma State 1194

7. Southern California 1196

8. Arizona 1197

9. Stanford 1201

10. Tulsa 1208

11. New Mexico State 1209

12. Louisiana State 1210

Michigan State 1210

14. Pepperdine 1211

15. Kent State 1224

16. Washington 1226

17. San Jose State 1227

18. Arizona State 1228

19. California 1234

20. Purdue 1236

21. New Mexico 1237

22. Ohio State 1247

23. South Florida 1251

24. South Carolina 1254

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

1. Candy Hennemann, Duke 75-72-69-69-285

2. Lorena Ochoa, Arizona 73-71-72-69-285

3. Candie Kung, Southern California 72-74-71-70-287

Katy Harris, Louisiana State 72-70-70-75-287

5. Young-A Yang, Tennessee 75-73-71-69-288

6. Lindsey Wright, Pepperdine 70-72-74-73-289

Ursula Tuutti, New Mexico State 72-73-70-74-289

Laura Moffat, UCLA 69-69-75-76-289

9. Celeste Troche, Auburn 72-68-74-77-291

10. Reilley Rankin, Georgia 72-78-70-72-292

Maria Boden, Oklahoma State 70-74-74-74-292

Jimin Kang, Arizona State 74-70-70-78-292

San Jose State Scores

38. Marcela Leon 74-78-80-70-302

65. Helle Gram 74-77-78-78-307

65. Jessica Krantz 80-78-74-75-307

77. Georgina Simpson 75-79-79-78-311

122. Rebecka Heinmert 84-83-93-78-338