May 20, 2007
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Watch Interview with Kristen Svicarovich
Follow Live Stats | NCAA Championship Notes
Making its fourth trip in seven years under the direction of head coach Martha Richards, the Vanderbilt women’s golf team returns to compete in the NCAA Championship, May 22-25, at the LPGA International Legends Course in Daytona Beach, Fla.
The Commodores qualified for the four-day event after finishing sixth at the NCAA Central Regional (34-over par 886) in Ann Arbor Mich. on May 12. Vanderbilt is back at the NCAA Championship for the first time since the 2004 campaign. That year, Vanderbilt won the NCAA Central Regional and finished fifth at the NCAA Championship – completing a three-year run of appearances at the event. VU had never advanced to the NCAA Championship prior to Richards’ arrival in June 2000.
“It’s always special when you advance to this point in the season,” head coach Martha Richards said. “Now everyone starts from zero and is playing for the hardware.”
Jacqui Concolino became the first player in school history to win medalist honors at an NCAA regional when she carded a career-best 5-under 208 to win the NCAA Central Regional on May 12. The Orlando, Fla., native and First Team All-Southeastern Conference performer has ranked among the Top 10 players in the nation throughout the year. Concolino has nine Top 10 finishes in 11 events as a sophomore. She will be making her first appearance at the NCAA Championship after missing the invite as an individual by one stroke last year at the NCAA East Regional. She leads the Commodores with a 72.23 stroke average.
Seniors Kristen Svicarovich and Chris Brady are the only current Commodores with experience at the NCAA Championship. Svicarovich has made two previous appearances: tying for 69th place (15-over 303) as a freshman when Vanderbilt participated as a team in 2004 and tying for 16th place (12-over 296) a year later after qualifying as an individual. Brady tied for 28th place (6-over 294) as a freshman with the Commodores in 2004.
Svicarovich is enjoying her best season as a Commodore with a career-best five Top 10 finishes. She currently ranks second on the team with a 74.68 stroke average. Brady has carded five Top 20 finishes this season.
Other Commodores competing this week at the NCAA Championship include junior Liebelei Lawrence and freshman Brooke Goodwin. Both have posted three Top 20 finishes this season.
“This is a group that has proven that it can win against anyone on a given week,” Richards said. “Jacqui has been playing with a lot of confidence. Chris and Kristen have been in this situation before and Liebelei and Brooke have put together some super performances this season. We’re looking forward to the week.”
Eight teams and the top two individuals from non-qualifying teams have advanced from each of the three NCAA regionals to compete at the NCAA Championship. Competition in the 24-team, 126-player field begins Tuesday at 7 a.m. CT. Vanderbilt will begin from the 10th tee at 12:10 p.m. CT. The Commodores will be grouped with North Carolina and BYU.
Live scoring is available throughout the event at golfstat.com.
2007 NCAA Women’s Championship Participants
East Region:
1. Duke
2. UCLA
3. Wake Forest
4. Auburn
5. Purdue
6. North Carolina
7. Alabama
8. Louisville
Individuals:
1. Caroline Westrup, Florida State
2. Lene Krog, East Carolina
Central Region:
1. Southern California
2. Georgia
3. TCU
4. Indiana
5. Arizona
6. Vanderbilt
7. Tennessee
8. Michigan State
Individuals:
1. Stacy Lewis, Arkansas
2. Pamela Ontiveros, Oral Roberts
West Region:
1. Stanford
2. Oklahoma State
3. Arizona State
4. Denver
5. UC Irvine
6. Brigham Young
7. Pepperdine
8. New Mexico
Individuals:
1. Kay Hoey, Long Beach State
2. Kelly Nakashima, Idaho