NCAA women's golf: ASU's Vaughn finishes 5th in individual tournament

Arizona State's Monica Vaughn finished fifth overall at the NCAA individual tournament Monday, leading a group of four Pac-12 players in the top-10. Emma Talley of Alabama took home the championship with a four-day total of 285, the first individual title in Alabama's history. 

[Related: 2015 NCAA women's golf individual scores (GolfStatResults.com)]

Vaughn's carded a final-round 72 on Monday in Bradenton, Florida. Her 289 four-day total was made even more impressive by the way she started. An opening-round 75 for the sophomore could have set the tone for a disappointing week. Instead, she powered through rain delays, lightning storms, and a strong field of contenders to finish ahead of fellow conference foes Mariah Stackhouse (291, sixth place) and Lauren Kim (292, tied for seventh) of Stanford, as well as Gabriella Then (295, tied for tenth) of USC. 

Vaughn's performace could be the start of a banner week for the Pac-12, as four teams (USC, Stanford, Arizona and Washington) all advanced to the round of eight in team match play.

The title may not have come this season for Vaughn, but with her 71-71-72 finish over the final three days of the tournament, the message was sent.