Cle Elum, Wash.—Coming down to the final three holes Wednesday, all five Spartan players made a birdie and two pars to help the San José State women's golf team finish fifth at the NCAA Cle Elum Regional and earn the school's 21st appearance to the NCAA Championship May 17-22, in Fayetteville, Ark.
San José State shot a two-over 290 in the final round to finish fifth at eight-over 872, two shots ahead of UCF at 10-over 874. Southern California won the regional at 20-under 844, followed by Washington at five-over 859, Northwestern at even-par 864 and Arkansas at five-over 869. The Spartans are one of 24 teams that will play at The Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville.
Natasha Andrea Oon and Abegail Arevalo showed why they have been the leaders of the San José State women's golf team as each birdied #18 to insure the Spartans would advance. Oon was the team's top finisher at the tournament, shooting a one-under 71 in the final round as she tied for ninth at four-under 142. She shot even par over the front nine, making two birdies, two bogeys and five pars. Oon started the final nine holes with a birdie and four consecutive pars to go -1 through 14. She bogeyed #15 before two consecutive pars and a five-foot birdie on #18 to end the day.
Arevalo started the day with a double bogey on her very first hole. But, she rebounded from that hole and made 16 consecutive pars before playing the par-five #18 where she hit a four-foot putt for birdie to end the day at one-over 73. Arevalo finished the tournament tied for 22nd at three-over 219.
Franziska Friedrich shot her third under-par round of the season with a one-under 71 to finish tied for 28th at four-over 220. She started her round with eight straight pars before back-to-back bogeys found her at +2. Friedrich finished her final eight holes with three bogeys and five pars.
Alexandra Cooper shot a three-over 75 and finished tied for 51st at eight-over 224. She started the final round with three pars, a bogey, four pars and a bogey to be two-over after nine holes. On the back nine, she went par-bogey-bogey, before three pars, a birdie on #16 and two pars to end the round.
Antonia Malate also shot a 75 in the final round and tied for 57th at 10-over 226. She was five-over after nine holes on Wednesday, but shot two-under over the final nine holes with birdies on #13 and #18.
"We are so proud of the way the team performed today," said Spartan head coach Dana Dormann. "This is what we practice for everyday, sticking to our routines and preparing for the next shot. We didn't start the way we wanted, but we were patient and came through when we needed it.
"Coming down those final three holes, it was great to see the team pull together. Watching Franzy make her birdie on #16, and then Alex do the exact same thing was clutch. Then we all made par on #17 before heading to #18. That final hole could have been nerve-wracking as there were teams and spectators watching. But we came through when needed and shot three-under on the hole.
"We are so happy to be representing San José State at the NCAA Championships. We could not have done this without the support of our boosters, especially the Thawleys and Gordons. We are very grateful for our first-class practice facility that is just amazing."
One sad note for the Spartans, Dormann had qualified to play at the U.S. Senior Women's Open but will now have to withdraw from the tournament as the dates overlap with the NCAA Championship.
NCAA Cle Elum Regional
Tumble Creek Club at Suncadia Resort
Par 72, 6,306 yards
Final Team Standings
(top six advance to NCAA Championships)
1. Southern California 281-285-278-844 -20
2. Washington 285-293-281-859 -5
3. Northwestern 284-302-278-864 E
4. Arkansas 287-296-286-869 +5
5. San José State 289-293-290-872 +8
6. UCF 290-298-286-874 +10
7. Ohio State 293-295-287-875 +11
8. Oregon State 293-296-288-877 +13
9. Oregon 295-296-288-879 +15
10. South Carolina 298-296-287-881 +17
11. Iowa State 299-301-282-882 +18
12. San Diego State 296-298-295-889 +25
13. Sacramento State 302-302-288-892 +28
14. Old Dominion 293-309-293-895 +31
15. Miami 299-314-289-902 +38
16. New Mexico State 321-305-298-924 +61
17. Boston 307-318-312-937 +73
18. Southern Illinois 322-320-310-952 +88
Final Individual Standings
1. Jennifer Chang, Southern California 70-67-68-205 -11
2. Rino Sasaki, Washington 68-70-68-206 -10
2. Ana Laura Collado, UCF 66-72-68-206 -10
San José State Results
9. Natasha Andrea Oon 70-71-71-212 -4
22. Abegail Arevalo 72-74-73-219 +3
28. Franziska Friedrich 76-73-71-220 +4
51. Alexandra Cooper 74-75-75-224 +8
57. Antonia Malate 73-78-75-226 +10
# # #
