FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Northwestern women's golf is in rare company.
The Wildcats wrapped up their seventh-straight top-15 finish Tuesday morning, finishing 13th in the 24-team field at the 2019 NCAA Women's Golf Championships at Blessings Golf Club. The third round was suspended Monday evening due to darkness and the Wildcats returned to the course at 6:45 a.m. Tuesday.
The 'Cats are one of just two teams to finish in the top 15 each of the last seven seasons.
NCAA Championships Team Leaderboard
NCAA Championships Individual Leaderboard
Chicago's Big Ten Team entered the third round with a chance to advance to its third-straight match play championship after a strong second round that included 22 birdies and an eagle, but it wasn't in the cards as the 'Cats were unable to regain momentum in the third round that spanned two days. NU would have advanced to the fourth and final round under the original format, but inclement weather forced the stroke play championship to be cut from 72 to 54 holes.
The finish concludes the careers of two of the best golfers in program history in seniors Stephanie Lau and Janet Mao. Lau and Mao are two of just three student-athletes in program history to earn All-Big Ten honors in all four years, led the 'Cats to four-consecutive NCAA Championships and were a part of the 2017 NCAA Stroke Play Champion team that that finished as the National Runner Up.
Both Lau and Mao finished among the top five players in program history in career scoring average.
Junior Brooke Riley was the Wildcats' top individual, finishing tied for 43rd at 11-over. Riley made a run on her first nine with three-straight birdies on holes 14, 15 and 16 to make the turn at 1-under on the day, but an hour and half rain delay halted any momentum the 'Cats had gained. Riley returned to the course Tuesday morning with just one hole to play, but responded by sticking her approach to just two feet for a tap-in birdie to close her second NCAA Championships.
Riley will return for her senior season along with first years Kelly Su and Sim, who made their NCAA Championship debut. Sim finished the season with the best rookie scoring average in program history and tied for 16th in the field this week with 10 birdies.
The Wildcats wrapped up their seventh-straight top-15 finish Tuesday morning, finishing 13th in the 24-team field at the 2019 NCAA Women's Golf Championships at Blessings Golf Club. The third round was suspended Monday evening due to darkness and the Wildcats returned to the course at 6:45 a.m. Tuesday.
The 'Cats are one of just two teams to finish in the top 15 each of the last seven seasons.
NCAA Championships Team Leaderboard
NCAA Championships Individual Leaderboard
Chicago's Big Ten Team entered the third round with a chance to advance to its third-straight match play championship after a strong second round that included 22 birdies and an eagle, but it wasn't in the cards as the 'Cats were unable to regain momentum in the third round that spanned two days. NU would have advanced to the fourth and final round under the original format, but inclement weather forced the stroke play championship to be cut from 72 to 54 holes.
The finish concludes the careers of two of the best golfers in program history in seniors Stephanie Lau and Janet Mao. Lau and Mao are two of just three student-athletes in program history to earn All-Big Ten honors in all four years, led the 'Cats to four-consecutive NCAA Championships and were a part of the 2017 NCAA Stroke Play Champion team that that finished as the National Runner Up.
Both Lau and Mao finished among the top five players in program history in career scoring average.
Junior Brooke Riley was the Wildcats' top individual, finishing tied for 43rd at 11-over. Riley made a run on her first nine with three-straight birdies on holes 14, 15 and 16 to make the turn at 1-under on the day, but an hour and half rain delay halted any momentum the 'Cats had gained. Riley returned to the course Tuesday morning with just one hole to play, but responded by sticking her approach to just two feet for a tap-in birdie to close her second NCAA Championships.
Riley will return for her senior season along with first years Kelly Su and Sim, who made their NCAA Championship debut. Sim finished the season with the best rookie scoring average in program history and tied for 16th in the field this week with 10 birdies.