Oct. 24-30
WOMEN
Grace Na, PepperdineThe sophomore tied the NCAA 18-hole scoring record (in relation to par) with a opening-round nine-under 63 at Boulder Creek GC in Boudler City, Nev., en route to claiming medalist honors at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown. Na finished the tournament with a seven-under 209 total, a career best for the Alameda, Calif., native.
"Coach told us last night to focus on the process," Na said after her 63. "That's what my focus was on. At the end, I didn't realize that I was that many under par until I counted. It was an easy day because I was focused in the right spot. The whole day, I was very consistent with my ball-striking. I hit every fairway, hit every green, and hit 12 of 18 within 15 feet.
Honorable mention:
Fanny Cnops, UNC Greensboro
The freshman became the first Spartan golfer to win an individual title in eight years when she posted a seven-under 209 to beat East Tennesse State's Gabriella Wahl by four strokes and the rest of the field by at least eight at the Palmetto Intercollegiate, played at Kiawah Island's Oak Point GC. She also broke the school's 54-hole scoring record and her final-round 67 tied the school's 18-hole mark.
Paula Reto, Purdue
The junior's two-over 218 performance at CC of Landfall in Wilmington, N.C., gave her her first college victory and also propelled the Boilermakers to a surprise team victory.
Marissa Steen, Memphis
Her two-over 215 at Ridgeway CC in Germantown, Tenn., was eight strokes clear of runner-up Kristin Tan of Xavier as she claimed medalist honors at the Memphis Invitational.
MEN
Jordan Spieth, TexasAn eight-stroke victory at the Isleworth Collegiate Invitational washed away much of the disappointment the freshman from Dallas was feeling after holding the 36-hole lead at the Jack Nicklaus Invitational last month, only to finish T-2 after a final-round 72.
Spieth made sure nobody was going to catch him at Isleworth CC outside of Orlando, opening with 65-73 to carry a one-shot lead into the final 18. A closing 67 gave the two-time U.S. Junior champion an 11-under 205 (24 stroke lower than the after 54-hole score shot in the event.
The individual victory also help the Longhorns cruise to the team title for the third straight year.
Honorable mention:
Dominic Bozzelli, Auburn
A final-round 70 gave the junior from Pittsford, N.Y., a six-under 210 total and a share of the title at the U.S. Collegiate, his first college victory.
T.J. Mitchell, Georgia
The junior carded his first career individual victory at the ODU/Outerbacks Collegiate Invitational with a 15-under 201, helping the Bulldogs claim the team title by three strokes over Liberty.
Hunter Sparks, Wichita State
A career-best 14-under 199, capped by a final-round 66, gave the junior the title at the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate.
Johannes Veerman, Texas A&M
Earned a share of the U.S. Collegiate title with Bozzelli, although he didn't know he had until landing back in College Station, Texas. The Aggies left GC of Georgia before the conclusion of play in order to make their flight back home. "He asked me [during the flight] 'So you think I won?' " noted Texas A&M coach J.T. Higgins. "We were just happy there was no playoff." Veerman, a sophomore transfer from Tulsa, was the only player in the event under par for all three rounds.
