Strong Finish to Stroke Play Advances Wildcats to Match Play

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Four rounds of stroke play to advance to match play at the 2021 NCAA Championships came down to the final hole of the day as the Yu-Sang Hou sank a par on the ninth green to tie for seventh place and advanced to the quarterfinals. Gile Bite Starkute follow up her career low 68 on Sunday with a 3-under performance on Monday to pace the Wildcats.

The Wildcats were on their way to a playoff with Arizona State for the final advancing spot as Yu-Sang Hou stuck her second shot on the par-4, ninth hole to within five feet. A pair of missed putts by Florida State and a par from Hou put the Wildcats into match play for the third consecutive NCAA Championship.
 

Here's ?? @Laura_Ianello on the Wildcats advancing to match play at the 2021 NCAA ?? Championships. #BearDown | #NCAAGolf pic.twitter.com/yo2s5ltjVJ

— Arizona Women's Golf (@ArizonaWGolf) May 25, 2021

Arizona sank seven birdies in its quick start through its first nine holes to make the turn just above the cutline. Before the final group approached the ninth green, the Wildcats had received a 20-foot birdie putt from Starkute on the eighth hole and a chip-in birdie from Therese Warner on the ninth hole. The sophomore duo of Starkute and Warner led the Wildcats in scoring after the turn by shooting even par for their final nine holes of the round.

By advancing to the quarterfinals, the Cats have qualified for match play for a fourth time since the format was added to the NCAA Championships in 2015. They advanced to the quarterfinals in 2015, won the national championship in 2018 and the semifinals in 2019. Arizona will face fellow Pac-12 member, Stanford, in the quarterfinals at 7:10 a.m. (MST) on Tuesday, May 25.