Most teams would be content with a second-place finish in a regional qualifying tournament, especially if the event was chock-full of the nation’s top talent and took place at a challenging venue.
And in the NCAA Women’s Golf West Regional tournament, a second-place finish is also good enough to earn a team a spot in the national championships.
So why, after finishing nine strokes behind first-place winner Arizona and earning its second consecutive second-place finish, is there a somber mood amongst the UCLA women’s golf team?
“The last two weeks we’ve dropped the ball,” UCLA senior veteran Sydnee Michaels said. “Arizona is not better than us by any stretch of the imagination. … No one is deeper or better than we are.”
The door was open for the Bruins to make a move and reinforce their No. 1 overall ranking. The Western region lacked the depth that the central and east divisions possessed and UCLA did not have to worry about facing Arizona State or USC, two teams that have proven to be the Bruins’ toughest competition this year. But even with their top two rivals competing in other divisions, the Bruins could not put together three successful rounds.
The conditions at the Stanford University Golf Course did not help UCLA either. The Bruins, who tore the same course apart earlier in the year, found themselves in the midst of a transformed championship course that had all the essential elements for providing weekend drama.
The rough was deeper, the pin placements were tougher, and the greens were unbelievably fast.
This provided the perfect storm for the Bruins and culminated with high scores and a plethora of bogeys. Not one of the five Bruins competing recorded a round under par, and as a group, they shot 885 (+33) for their three-day total.
Even first-place Arizona did not get through the weekend unscathed, as they shot a three-round total of 876 (+24).
While they may not have played their best golf of the year, the Bruins did keep themselves in contention and had three players finish in the top 20.
Playing with a back injury that has nagged her all year, sophomore Stephanie Kono played through the pain and turned in a solid score of 220 (+7), good enough for a tenth-place finish.
This team’s proverbial Achilles’ heel has been putting. With wind drying out already quick greens on the Stanford course, the Bruins struggled to convert on their birdie and par tries. Coach Carrie Forsyth admitted that putting has been a weakness of late.
“We’re streaky in that area … but the short game hasn’t been what it needs to be. We give away shots around the green,” Forsyth said. “That’s where you score, from 100 yards and in, and we haven’t done a great job doing that.”
Despite the somber mood, the Bruins have earned an NCAA championship berth for the 10th consecutive year. But the team knows it will not mean much unless they come through in the championships.
“I know we can contend and win. … But if we are going to win a championship we have to put it all together for those (three remaining championship) rounds.” Forsyth said.