After a disappointing first round that left the UCLA
women’s golf team dangerously close to the cutline for
advancing to the NCAA Championship, the team needed to respond with
better play for the remainder of the NCAA West Regional at Karsten
Golf Course in Tempe, Ariz. to secure its spot in Indiana.
UCLA answered the challenge. The No. 13 Bruins finished the
tournament strongly, securing third place in the 21-team
field. The squad compiled a score of 28-over par over three
rounds, 22 shots behind runaway winner USC and 12 shots behind
second-place Oklahoma State.
The third-place finish was good enough to beat the top seed in
the regional and the No. 2 team in the country, the Pepperdine
Waves (33-over par).
Freshman Susie Mathews emerged as UCLA’s leader in the
final round, firing a four-under par 68, UCLA’s lowest round
of the tournament.
Mathews, who tallied five birdies in her final round, finished
the tournament at two-over par and in a tie for sixth
place. UNLV’s Sunny Oh won the individual crown with a
five-under par tournament score.
Joining Mathews in the top 20 was sophomore Charlotte Mayorkas,
who finished the three-round tournament at six-over par and tied
for 16th place. After a first-round 70, Mayorkas struggled
over her next two rounds, shooting 77 and 75, respectively.
Junior Gina Umeck played very well for the Bruins, finishing the
tournament at eight-over par in 23rd place. Junior Hana Kim
shot 12-over par and tied for 34th place. Kim was the last of
four Bruins to place in the top 35 in the 107-player field.
The Bruins have less than two weeks to prepare for the NCAA
Championships, to be held in West Lafayette, Indiana on the Purdue
University Golf Course. Their strong performance in the regional
and their ability to beat the top teams in the country will
certainly promote positive thoughts as they take the first tee May
21.