NCAA Regionals ahead for Pac-12 Women’s Golf

SAN FRANCISCO-- Nine Pac-12 Conference women’s golf teams will be in action next week as the NCAA Women’s Golf Championships get underway at four regional sites May 6-9. Representing the Pac-12 will be ARIZONA, ARIZONA STATE, CALIFORNIA, OREGON, OREGON STATE, STANFORD, UCLA, USC and WASHINGTON. Pac-12 champion Stanford and USC claim the No. 1 seed at their respective regional sites.

AUBURN REGIONAL, Opelika, Ala. – Saugahatchee Country Club (Par 72, 6,371 yards)
CALIFORNIA (No. 12 seed) – The Golden Bears are making their 20^th consecutive NCAA regional appearance. The Bears have tallied four top-two finishes including a run of three straight tournaments this spring. Senior Cindy Oh (73.1 scoring average) recorded three top-five finishes and five top-20 finishes this season. She has played two of the 10 best rounds in school history and tied for the school record for shots under par as she shot a 6-under 67 at the Pac-12 Preview. Freshman Katherine Zhu currently holds the lowest scoring average by a freshman in school history at 73.5.

CLE ELUM REGIONAL, Cle Elum, Wash. – Tumble Creek Club (Par 72, 6,306 yards)
USC (No. 1 seed) – The Pac-12 Champions and top-ranked team in the final Women’s Golf Coaches Association poll have won a NCAA record 12 regional titles, including seven straight from 2010-16.  USC has won six times and never finished out of the top three in 11 events this season.  Sophomores Jennifer Chang and Gabriela Ruffels finished first and second, respectively, at the Rancho Santa Fe G.C. qualifier and secured a spot in the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open. Chang (71.93) is one of four Trojans with a scoring average under 72.00 as she has recorded seven top-10 finishes, including a win at the Clover Cup.

WASHINGTON (No. 5 seed) – Washington, which is hosting the Cle Elum Regional, is making its 12^th straight NCAA Regional appearance and 26^th overall. The Huskies, who are ranked 19^th nationally, have posted seven top five showings in 11 starts this year. The Dawgs also own two team titles in the fall and have finished in the top-5 in the previous four spring events. Senior Wenyung Keh boasts a 73.20 stroke average with nine of her 24 rounds under par. Senior Julianne Alvarez (72.50) has posted three top-10 finishes, including a T8 at the recent Pac-12 Championships.

OREGON (No. 7 seed) – The Ducks are making their 12^th straight NCAA Regional appearance. Senior Petra Salko (73.55 avg) was named the Pac-12 Women’s Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She posted a pair of top-five finishes, including a second-place showing at the Bruin Wave.

OREGON STATE (No. 9 seed) – This is the third consecutive year the Beavers have earned a trip to postseason play. The last time they advanced three straight years was 1999-2000-2001. Sophomore Ellie Slama leads Oregon State with a 71.75 scoring average. She’s posted seven top-10 finishes this season, including a win at the Trinity Forest Invitational, and 17 of her 29 rounds have been under par.

EAST LANSING REGIONAL, East Lansing, Mich. – Forest Akers West Golf Course (Par 72, 6,387 yards)
STANFORD (No. 1 seed) – Stanford is making its 27th straight appearance in an NCAA Regional. The Cardinal has won its Regional three straight times and has advanced to the NCAA Championships in each of the last nine seasons. The Cardinal has posted two wins and five top-three finishes so far this season. Stanford is led by juniors Andrea Lee (71.53 avg) and Albane Valenzuela (72.00 avg). Lee has two wins this year and is tied with Mihairi McKay (1994-97) for the most career wins in program history with eight. Valenzuela, coming off a tie for first at the Pac-12 Championship, has posted two wins and three top-three finishes this season.

ARIZONA (No. 2 seed) – The Wildcats are the defending national champions. Arizona has finished among the top three in six events this season, including three wins – Pac-12 Preview, UNLV Rebel, Hawkeye Invitational. Arizona is paced by sophomore Yu-Sang Hou (72.84) and senior Bianca Pagdanganan (72.88). Hou tied for first at the Pac-12 Preview and has posted four other top-10 finishes. Pagdanganan collected a win at the El Tigre Invitational among her four top-5 finishes.

UCLA (No. 4 seed) – The Bruins have five top-five finishes this season and are led by junior Mariel Galdiano (71.85) and sophomore Patty Tavatanakit (72.0). Both have a pair of wins this season. Coach Carrie Forsyth has led the Bruins to a top-10 finish at the NCAA Championships 14 times in the last 19 years. Under Forsyth’s guidance, the Bruins have captured eight Regional titles and two NCAA crowns.

INDIVIDUAL – Kirsty Hodgkins, Colorado – Hodgkins makes her third straight Regional appearance. The junior boasts a 74.06 scoring average.

NORMAN REGIONAL, Norman, Okla. – Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club (Par 72, 6,407 yards)
ARIZONA STATE (No. 4 seed) - The Sun Devils have qualified for the Regionals for the 27^th consecutive year. Junior Olivia Mehaffey is coming off a playoff win at the Pac-12 Championships to earn medalist honors. She paces the Sun Devils with a 72.53 scoring average and five top-10 finishes.

Live scoring will available for all regionals at www.golfstat.com

The top six teams and three individuals not from those teams at each NCAA regional will advance to the NCAA Championship at Blessings Golf Club, in Fayetteville, Arkansas on May 17-22 (University of Arkansas, host).

Conference of Champions: The Pac-12 Conference has claimed 19 NCAA team titles and produced 16 NCAA individual champions. In the four years since the NCAA went to the Match Play format for its championship, the Pac-12 is a perfect 4-0, with national titles coming from four different members – Stanford (2015), Washington (2016), Arizona State (1017) and Arizona (2018).

ANNIKA Award Watch List: The ANNIKA Award Watch List has been narrowed to 15 and the Pac-12 is well represented with six individuals – Stanford’s Andrea Lee and Albane Valenzuela; UCLA’s Mariel Galdiano and Patty Tavatanakit; USC’s Jennifer Chang and Malia Nam. Previous winners of the prestigious award from the Pac-12 include UCLA’s Alison Lee (2014) and Bronte Law (2016).

Palmer Cup: USC’s Jennifer Chang and Malia Nam join UCLA’s, Mariel Galdiano on Team USA, while Stanford’s Albane Valenzuela will represent the international squad in the Palmer Cup (July 6-8, Evian Resort Golf Club). Also joining the United States team as assistant coach is Stanford’s Lauren Dobashi.

2019 Pac-12 Championship Results
April 23-25, Palos Verdes Golf Club – Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.

Final Team Results (Par 71, 6,131 yards)
Conditions: Sunny, 70 degrees

Final Individual Results (Par 71, 6,131 yards)

*Mehaffey defeated Valenzuela on the first playoff hole (No. 18)

Pac-12 All-Conference

Pac-12 Honorable Mention