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Park leads Southern California to national title

Friday, May 24, 2013

By George Henry
Associated Press

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) -- Annie Park shot a 1-under 71 to top the individual standings and help Southern California take its third NCAA women's tournament title with a record-setting team performance Friday.

Southern California finished at 19-under 1,133 -- 15 strokes better than the previous tournament mark set by UCLA in 2004 -- to beat second-place Duke by 21 strokes.

Third-place Purdue was 21 over -- 40 shots behind Southern California.

Park, a freshman from Levittown, N.Y., finished at 10 under for a six-stroke victory over Duke's Lindy Duncan. Kyung Kim and Sophia Popov tied for sixth at 1 over for Southern California, which finished second to Alabama last year by one shot.

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USC extends its lead on Day 3; Park & Meadow battling for individual title

Thursday, May 23, 2013

By Brendan Mohler

ATHENS, Ga. -- While the third day of a 72-hole tournament is commonly considered "moving day," only the Auburn Tigers -- who drew inspiration from the brief presence of Coach Kim Evans, recovering from recent surgery to treat ovarian cancer -- succeeded in matching USC's third-round three-under 285. At 19-under 845, USC turned its 12-shot, 36-hole lead into a 17-shot cushion over Duke -- the only other team under par -- with only 18 holes remaining. Tied for third place are Purdue, UCLA and defending champion Alabama, who shot 13-over 301 Thursday.

High temperatures and low humidity nearly turned the already firm and fast UGA GC greens to hardwood tabletops, and only 15 players managed to break par. But the Trojans grinded through the front nine and shot eight under on the back to post respective scores of 69 and 70 from freshmen Kyung Kim and Annie Park, 72 from sophomore Doris Chen and 74 from junior Sophia Popov.

"I'm just honored to be playing in this championship," said Park, who leads the individual race by two shots over Alabama's Stephanie Meadow (one-over 73 Thursday) and Mississippi State's Ally McDonald after recording four birdies in her last six holes. "It takes the pressure off knowing how good my teammates are."

The lowest round of the day was a four-under 68 from Auburn junior Marta Sanz, who jumped 32 places into a tie for 14th. "On the back nine every putt went in. It was one of those days," said Sanz, who, like her teammates, benefited from having Coach Evans on site. "It shows us what life is and that we're just playing a game."

McDonald's seven-under 209 total has her well within reach of Park's lead, but because her team sits in 18th place at +30, she won't play alongside the other leaders. "I think I'm in a good position to make something happen," said McDonald. "[The leaders] have no control over what I do."

USC's big lead should take some excitement out of Friday's final round, but as has happened in the past, large leads can be erased even more quickly then they are built. However, Park and Meadow are among the favorites to win national Player of the Year honors, so there's more riding on the final round than a team and individual title, as if that weren't enough.

***Auburn's Coach Evans arrived on site yesterday and left this morning via a ride to the airport from Beans Kelly, a close friend and former Georgia women's coach. The Tigers are currently T-9 after posting three-under 285 on Thursday. "The first day, [we] seemed a bit rattled," said Auburn student assistant coach Danielle Downey. "Coach Evans flying in and the team seeing her really settled [our players]."

***Emilie Burger, the Georgia senior who qualified for the event as an individual, shot 75 Wednesday and is T-72 at +11. "It's not the way I expected to play," said Burger. "But to be able to finish my career here tomorrow is a blessing." Burger takes lessons at Atlanta Athletic Club from Chan Reeves, the nephew of former NFL player and coach, Dan Reeves.

***Amidst the entourage following Burger on Thursday was former UGA golfer Terri Moody. Moody was the first woman to ever receive a full athletic scholarship to UGA, and as a senior, won the national championship here at UGA GC in a three-hole playoff. With Moody and Kelly in her gallery, Burger had two of the biggest legends in Bulldog women's golf watching her play.

Follow @BrendanMohlerGW

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Georgia's Burger happy to be at home

Thursday, May 23, 2013

By Brendan Mohler

ATHENS, GA.—It’s not every year that a senior gets to close out her career playing her home course on the biggest stage in college golf—the NCAA Women's Championship. But Emilie Burger, who won the Mason Rudolph Championship last fall and the Bryan National Collegiate this spring, is doing just that. Though the Bulldogs failed to qualify as a team, the 22-year-old from Hoschton, Ga.,, a three-time All-American, qualified for her first national championship by shooting one-under 212 at the West Regional at Stanford GC.

“It’s a dream come true to be playing in this event on my home course. I started out playing junior golf here. The whole golf program has been such a blessing,” said Burger, who through three rounds this week at the University of Georgia GC has played solid stretches of golf despite scores of 75, 77 and 75. Big numbers have been her problem with three double bogeys and a quadruple bogey over 54 holes.

Burger began attending annual summer golf camps at Georgia as a child and still uses the Bulldog headcover she received from Todd McCorkle, the former Georgia women’s coach, for being named "Camper of the Week" as a kid.
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Five questions with Cal men's golf coach Steve Desimone

Thursday, May 23, 2013

He has coached the California men's golf team for 34 seasons, but Steve Desimone has never had one like this year's: 11 wins in 13 tournaments. Before taking his team to next week's NCAA Championships, the Golden Bear alum fielded five questions from Ryan Herrington.

Golden Bear: Desimone has coached the Cal team for 34 years. Photo: J.D. Cuban.

Q: Golf isn't big at most colleges. Have you cracked Cal's mainstream?
It's amazing how many places I've gone where I would not think people were tuned in, but they are. My doctor recently said, “Great season coach. Run that table.” It's been overwhelming, gratifying and, in some respects, surprising.

Q: How have the players handled being mentioned as among the best college teams ever?
We haven't dwelled on it. We've been on a mission since losing to Alabama in the NCAA semifinals last year. [Winning the NCAAs] is the goal. These guys are tough. They know what it's like to play with pressure.

Q: Any postseason equipment changes?
The manufacturers take good care of us [with access to the latest clubs and fittings], but there has been very little tweaking. These guys are smart enough not to mess with a good thing. If anybody did, the others would have them in our doghouse so fast.

Q: With the potential for history at the NCAAs, has your apparel company asked you to do anything different?
Cal is a Nike school. They sent us three or four new shirts, which is great. Titleist has sent us gloves, balls, shoes. Ping gave us some new bags. Nothing crazy.

Q: How are sales of Cal golf merchandise going these days?
Sadly, the place in Berkeley that sold that kind of stuff went under a few years ago. Everyone loves a winner, so my guess is there would be a lot of people who would love to put their hands on some stuff. Maybe that's something we can work on.

Follow @GWcampusinsider

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USC women hold halfway lead at NCAAs

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

By Brendan Mohler

ATHENS, GA.—The USC Trojans took control on the second day of the NCAA Women’s Championship with a course- and tournament-record 12-under 276, good for a 36-hole total of 16-under 560 that has them 12 shots ahead of defending champion Alabama. Anchored by freshman Annie Park, whose precision putting carried her to a five-under 67, the women in gold and cardinal added a round of 69 from Kyung Kim and two 70s from Sophia Popov and Rachel Morris to complete a historic day.

“We got off to a great start, hitting great shots, making birdies,” said USC women's coach Andrea Gaston, who felt like more of a spectator than a coach for most of the round. “With a start like that, the momentum can really help the rest of the team.”

That was certainly the case on a day when the greens at the University of Georgia GC firmed up, but friendlier pin positions allowed for slightly more aggressive play on certain approach shots. Having a round in the books seemed to make some players more comfortable in Round 2. A Tuesday 67 by San Jose State’s Regan de Guzman led the field by two shots, but on Wednesday, Alabama’s Stephanie Meadow, Vanderbilt’s Jenny Hahn, Tulane’s Maribel Lopez Porras, and USC’s Park all shot 67.

“I’m just trying to be committed and relaxed over every shot,” said Meadow, whose eight-under 136 leads the individual race by one shot over Park. “I set a goal this week and it was all mental.”

USC may have a commanding lead, but the experiences that some of Trojans have dealt with recently may prove more beneficial than the 12-shot cushion.

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USC, San Jose St. take Day 1 lead at NCAAs

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

By Brendan Mohler

ATHENS, GA.—With its big, undulating greens and difficult pin locations, the University of Georgia GC held its own today, allowing only 19 subpar rounds on the first day of the NCAA Women’s Championship. USC (four-under 284), San Jose State (-4) and Duke (-2) were the only teams that broke par, with formidable foes Alabama (E), UCLA (+1) and Purdue (+1) only five shots back of the lead.

“Our goal was to be very patient,” said USC women's coach Andrea Gaston, whose squad has won five of its last six events and ranked No. 1 in the final Golf World/WGCA coaches' poll of the spring. “It’s a 72-hole event, so you’re always going to have a series of holes where you don’t do so well. But you can turn it around with a few birdies.”

The Trojans were led by freshman Annie Park’s two-under 70 and one-under 71s from juniors Rachel Morris and Sophia Popov. While still impressive, those rounds wilt in comparison to the five-under 67 that San Jose State freshman Regan de Guzman posted in the morning wave, a round that included seven birdies.

“I was just having so much fun,” said Guzman (right), whose team narrowly qualified for the tournament despite being seeded 19th going into the West Regional (only eight teams from each regional qualify).

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NCAA Women's Championship Preview: Why Alabama will take the team title

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

By Brendan Mohler

ATHENS, Ga. -- On the morning of the 2013 NCAA Women's Division I National Championship, the fog is slowly lifting and will give way to warm temperatures in the upper 80s by midday. Today represents the culmination of years of hard work for the teams and individuals that have earned the chance to compete for a national title at University of Georgia GC. Let's take a quick look at a few of the 24 teams competing this week.

It's hard to start with anyone but Alabama -- defending national champs, current SEC and East Regional champs. Led by Stephanie Meadow, who carries an adjusted stroke average of 71.846 and was a sophomore member of last year's national championship team, the Crimson Tide will look to make this year's championship their seventh consecutive title of 2013. Add senior Jennifer Kirby and junior Hannah Collier to the mix, and the defending champ returns with one of the strongest teams in the field.

Back with a vengeance after finishing a shot behind Alabama last year, Southern California closed the regular season with the nation's top ranking and -- led by Annie Park's seven-under 206 and Kyung Kim's final-round 63 -- won the West Regional by a shot over Purdue for the squad's record sixth title of the season. The Trojan's have three players (Park, Kim and Sophia Popov) ranked in the top 14 in scoring average, led by Park's national best 71.846.

Less than two weeks removed from a dramatic Central Regional victory over Oklahoma on the Sooners' home course, the Duke Blue Devils arrive in Athens hoping to claim their first national title since 2007. The Blue Devils have senior leadership in 2012 Curtis Cupper Lindy Duncan, who was key in overcoming a six-shot final-round deficit to win the regional crown. It's tough to count Duke out at any point; they might just be strongest playing from behind. Also, they'll be playing alongside USC and Alabama in the first two rounds, keeping a close eye on their two biggest foes.

While several teams are deserving of mention in this column, it's tough to write a good preview without mentioning UCLA (making its 12th straight NCAA appearance despite a disappointing seventh at the East Regional), Purdue (senior Paula Reto's seven-under 206 was good for medalist honors at the West Regional), Oklahoma (a deep squad highlighted by juniors Anne-Catherine Tanguay, Emily Collins and last year's individual champ, Chirapat Jao-Javanil) and Arkansas (third at regionals is best in school history and coach Shauna Estes-Taylor played for UGA).

MY PICKS: I'm going with Alabama as team champion. Compared to other teams, the women from Tuscaloosa are close to home and in a friendly environment. They live for big events and look more than ready to defend their title after posting a 20-under (!) total at regionals. Stephanie Meadow could very well win the individual title after claiming medalist honors at regionals, but I'm going with USC's Annie Park. That Park shot 68 in the final-round at regionals is about all I need to know.

As far as wildcards go, which sometimes is pretty far, I'm picking Tulane to surprise some people. The team has not finished worse than fourth in any tournament since October, and in finishing second at the East Regional, defeated strong teams like Arkansas, UCLA, Texas and Oklahoma State. Keep your eye on the Green Wave.

Follow @BrendanMohlerGW

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Forecasting NCAA Men's D-I Regionals

Thursday, May 16, 2013

By RYAN HERRINGTON

Lets call this Operation Best Guess. I went a modestly unfulfilling 15 of 24 on my Women's Regionals picks last week, being outpaced by two folks at that other weekly golf publication (kudos to Mr. Ringler and Ms. Baldry).

I'd love to convincingly say that I will get my revenge this week with my selections for Men's Regionals, but well have you seen the field at each of the six sites? Seriously, there are a minimum of eight teams at each that can advance if playing close to their potential. (Interestingly, a fair number of these schools could also potentially lay an egg this week too if they're not on their games.)

All this said, here they are ... the 30 teams that will be advancing to the NCAA Championship later this month. Nate Silver, eat your heart out!
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Cal: No. 1 with a bullseye

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

By Ryan Herrington

There is no truth to the rumor that by the time you stop reading this, the California men will have won another title.

The Golden Bears' winning ways (10 titles/12 starts) in 2012-13 will make this a year to remember regardless of their postseason showing. Of course, should they hold form and win an NCAA title, the number of memories will increase exponentially, not to mention the number of comparisons to the game's all-time great programs.

Here's a look at the Division I top 25 as we enter NCAA men's regionals week.

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Punching their tickets to Athens

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Here is a look at the 24 teams that advanced to the next week's NCAA Women's Championship, to be held May 21-24 at the University of Georgia GC in Athens, Ga. I got 15 of my 24 picks right, a solid but hardly spectacular result. Where I was correct, however, was my advice on looking for lower seeds to rise to the occasion at regionals. Eight schools outside the top eight seeds at the three Regionals played their way to nationals.

East: No. 10 Northwestern, No. 14 Auburn
Central: No. 9 Michigan State, No. 19 Mississippi State and No. 20 Wisconsin
West: No. 12 South Carolina, No. 14 Oregon, No. 19 San Jose State

Here's a look at all 24 qualifiers: