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Vanderbilt Commodores are NCAA Central Regional Champions 5-8-04 5/8/2004 Squad Advances to NCAA Women’s Golf Championships to be Held at Auburn, Ala., May 18-21 NORMAL, Ill.— Vanderbilt’s women’s golf squad added another chapter to the program’s growing history by picking up its first-ever NCAA Regional title on Saturday at the par-71, 6,108-yard University Golf Course in Normal, Ill. The Commodores posted the day’s best round with a 4-over par 288 for a three-day total of 893 to outdistance the second place Arizona Wildcats by nine strokes. With the title, the Black and Gold advance to the NCAA Championships at Auburn, Ala., from May 18-21, where as NCAA Central Region titlists, they will be paired with the champions of the NCAA East and West Regionals. VU sophomore May Wood carded a final round of 1-under par 70 to finish second individually at +2 just three strokes off the pace set by Arizona’s Erica Blasberg (-1). Overall, four Commodore golfers finished the tournament in the individual top 15: May Wood (second at 2-over par 215), Courtney Wood (eighth at 10-over par 223), Kristen Svicarovich (tied for 10th at 14-over par 227) and Sarah Jacobs (tied for 15th at 15-over par 228). “We were on the verge of shooting a very low round as a team today,” said fourth year head coach Martha Freitag. “However, this course is not really the type of course that would allow that to happen. We had very strong rounds today from May, Sarah and Kristen, while Courtney was burning the edges of the cup with her putting all day. This victory was exactly what we were hoping for coming in. When we go to nationals we will be paired together with the other regional champions in an elite group.” May Wood, a native of Signal Mountain, Tenn., opened her day by going out in 2-under par 34. For the second straight round the sophomore carded a bogey on her opening hole, but today Wood bounced back immediately with birdies at #2, #3 and #6. A bogey at #10 dropped her to 1-under for the day, while a birdie at #15 and a 4 at the par-3 17th closed out her round of 70. Over the three days, Wood was VU’s most consistent player by firing rounds of 73-72-70 for a three day total of 215. Sarah Jacobs of Whites Creek, Tenn., bounced back from a round of 85 on Friday to fire an even par 71 to strengthen the Commodore team effort. After going out in 1-over 37, the senior carded two birdies to just a single bogey on the back nine to come in at 1-under 34 to secure the even par round of 71. Freshman Kristen Svicarovich picked a great time to post the best round of her brief collegiate career as the rookie shot a steady 1-over par 72. The Hillsboro, Ore., native tallied 15 pars, two bogeys and a birdie at hole #2. Senior Courtney Wood (Brentwood, Tenn.) completed the scoring contingent for the Black and Gold with a 4-over par 75, while freshman Chris Brady (Cary, N.C.) carded an 8-over par 79. Team Standings (top eight teams advance to the NCAA Championship) Vanderbilt Scoring Commodores Remain Tied for First After Day Two of NCAA Central Regional NORMAL, Ill.— Following a windy day at the par-71, 6,108-yard University Golf Course in Normal, Ill., the top-seeded Vanderbilt women’s golf squad finds itself in the same position as yesterday by remaining in a tie for first place at the NCAA Central Regional. The Commodores are currently deadlocked with Michigan State at 605 (+37) after today’s round of 23-over par 307. The Black and Gold’s May Wood sits in third place just four shots off the individual lead at +3 (145), while teammate Courtney Wood follows closely behind in eighth at +6 (148). Arizona’s Erica Blasberg is the individual leader at 1-under par 141. “The wind was blowing very hard today and in the opposite direction than it was blowing in yesterday,” said Vanderbilt head coach Martha Freitag. “The conditions made the course play much differently than it did on Thursday. We had three very good individual rounds today and are still very much in contention for the title. I expect much better rounds from Sarah (Jacobs) and Chris (Brady) tomorrow. Overall, I like our position and look forward to having our best round of the season on Saturday.” The top eight teams and two individuals not associated with one of the top eight squads, following Saturday’s final round action, advance to the NCAA Championships at Auburn, Ala., May 18-21. Starting her round on the back nine, sophomore May Wood (Signal Mountain, Tenn.), the Southeastern Conference’s Co-Player of the Year, opened her day with four consecutive bogeys at #10, #11, #12 and #13, before settling down and carding four birdies in the next seven holes to reach even par for the day. A bogey at #5, a birdie at #6 and a final hole bogey at #9 sent Wood to the clubhouse at 3-over par for the tournament following a second round 1-over 72. “I was really proud of May,” said Freitag. “She played very good golf and showed a lot of mental toughness and emotional maturity to not get rattled by the tough start to her round.” Brentwood, Tenn., senior Courtney Wood (began at hole #10) opened her round by going out in a steady even par 35. However, the front nine would prove challenging as her day took a more up-and-down turn with three birdies and four bogeys to complete the 1-over par 72. Freshman Kristen Svicarovich (Hillsboro, Ore.) shot a 78, while senior Sarah Jacobs (Whites Creek, Tenn.) and freshman Chris Brady (Cary, N.C.) both carded 85’s to round out the Commodore squad. Vanderbilt will tee off on Saturday morning at 8:10 a.m. CT in final round action. Follow the live stats at www.golfstat.com. Vanderbilt Tied for First After NCAA Central Regional’s Opening Round NORMAL, Ill.—The top-seeded Vanderbilt Commodores are tied with second-seeded New Mexico for first place after Thursday’s opening round of the NCAA Women’s Central Regional. Both teams shot 298, 14-over par, to lead the 54-hole event. Senior Sarah Jacobs led the No. 3 rated Commodores with a one-over par 72 at Illinois State’s University Golf Course. Jacobs birdied the 15th and 16th holes to complete the back nine at even par following a steady front side. Arizona’s Erica Blasberg and Kyla Neal of Texas A & M had three-under 68’s to grab the individual lead. Southeastern Conference champion May Wood opened with a one-under 35 on the front but struggled with three bogeys on the closing nine to finish at 2-over 73. The final nine also caused some problems for Courtney Wood and Kristen Svicarovich, who carded 76 and 77, respectively. Chris Brady completed the Commodore squad, shooting 80. “It was windy today and although the course is in excellent shape, there is some bite to it with these conditions,” Vanderbilt head coach Martha Freitag noted. “We played the front side well but perhaps gave a few shots away on the back.” Overall, Freitag was pleased with her team’s first day effort. “During the first day of a tournament, you try to get a feel for the course,” Freitag says. “You want to make sure you don’t shoot yourself out of contention early, and we are certainly positioned well at this point.” Freitag said Jacobs “stayed patient and made some excellent up and downs” on the back side. The SEC Coach of the Year called May Wood’s round “solid all day but she never really got it going.” Tournament Notes – VU at NCAA Central Regional |
