ANN ARBOR, Michigan – The Pepperdine women's golf team outplayed its #10 seed at the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional, finishing in sixth place on Wednesday.
Unfortunately, only the top four teams move on to the NCAA Championships, so the result concludes the Waves' season after their 23rd consecutive NCAA Regional appearance.
The Waves finished with a three-day total of 893 (300-304-289) at the par-71 University of Michigan Golf Course. The Waves' 289 on Wednesday was by far its best of the regional, and was the fourth-best of the day.
The top four seeds advanced out of the regional. Pepperdine beat three top-50 teams in #29 UCF, #40 North Carolina and #43 Washington.
PLAYER SCORES
- Graduate Megan Dennis (Bedfordshire, United Kingdom) saved the best round of her Pepperdine career for her final effort, as her 3-under 68 moved her up to a tie for 13th place at 218 (76-74-68). She birdied 10, 11 and 12, her first three holes. After her only bogey on 15, she came back with her fourth birdie of the day on 17. Dennis then ran off 10 straight pars to conclude her round. The 3-under tied two others for the best score in the round.
- Sophomore Kaleiya Romero (San Jose, Calif.) tied for 16th place at 220 (73-73-74). She had three birdies during the final round.
- Freshman Lauren Gomez (Murrieta, Calif.) moved up to a tie for 36th at 227 (80-77-70) thanks to a 1-under final round. It was her eighth below-par round of the season, giving her sole possession of the Pepperdine freshman record. She had back-to-back birdies on 18 and 1 for her only two of the day.
- Sophomore Lion Higo (Gold Coast, Australia) tied for 51st at 233 (74-82-77). She had one birdie on the day.
- Freshman Milla Sagel (Bielefeld, Germany), who entered as a second-round substitute, shot her second straight 80.
QUOTABLE
Pepperdine Coach
Laurie Gibbs said: "It was really a great experience for this team. We have such a young, talented group. We really showed that today ... There are a lot of exciting things moving forward for this team."
THE NUMBERS
Team Standings: 1. San Jose State 862; 2. Virginia 865; T3. Arkansas 880; T3. Michigan 880; 5. Virginia Tech 883;
6. Pepperdine 893; 7. North Carolina 895; 8. Ohio State 902; 9. Washington 903; 10. Xavier 905; 11. UCF 909; 12. Oakland 942.
Individual Leaders: 1. Natasha Andrea Oon (San Jose State) 207; 2. Emily Mahar (Virginia Tech) 212; T3. Lucia Lopez-Ortega (San Jose State) 213; T3. Jana Melichova (Old Dominion) 213: T5. four players tied at 215.
