Cavalier Golfers Finish 12th at NCAAs

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Albuquerque, NM The 16th-ranked Virginia women’s golf team finished in a three-way tie for 12th at the NCAA Championships at the University of New Mexico Golf Course. The Cavaliers, along with No. 10 Auburn and No. 12 Alabama, completed the 72-hole tournament at 63-over 1215. It was UVa’s best performance at the national championships. In Virginia’s only other NCAA Championship appearance, the Cavaliers were 13th in 2005.

Virginia had rounds of 296, 317, 301 and 301. Weather, including high winds, lighting and hail, as well as darkness, delayed and suspended play numerous times during the four-day event.

Lene Krog led Virginia on the final day, shooting 1-over 73. Jennie Arseneault carded a 2-over 74, Joy Kim and Calle Nielson both shot 77 and Whitney Neuhauser posted a 78.

Krog was the Cavaliers top overall finisher in 28th place at 11-over 299. Arseneault finished the tournament at 300 and was 34th overall. Kim was 80th at 309, Nielson was 84th at 310 and Neuhauser placed 101st at 317.

“I am really proud of this team because of the way they played late in the semester,” said Virginia coach Kim Lewellen. “They did a great job at the ACC tournament and the East Regional and played well here in some very tough conditions. I know all of them would have liked to have done better, both individually and as a team, but they stayed with it the entire tournament.

“We must have played 12 holes this week when the winds were blowing between 40 and 50 miles per hour. There were so many stoppages for the weather. It was frustrating, but they did not let that deter them. They just kept at it. This will prove to be a very good experience for them.”

All five of UVa’s competitors return next season. Four were making their first appearance at the NCAA Championships. Krog competed as an individual last year while playing for East Carolina.

“We need to take what we learned this year and finish even better next year,” Lewellen said.

USC ended Duke’s three-year reign as NCAA Champions, finishing first at 16-over 1168. It was the Trojans second national title. Their first came in 2003. Cross-town rival UCLA was second at 1174. The Blue Devils, thanks to a final round of 7-under 281, moved all the way up to third place at 1180. Wake Forest, the other ACC team competing at the championship, was 10th at 45-over 1197.

Arizona State’s Azahara Munoz made a birdie on the 18th hole in a playoff to defeat UCLA’s Tiffany Joh for the individual title.

NCAA Championships
University of New Mexico Championship Course
Albuquerque, NM
Par-72, 6,424 yards
Final Results

Team Results
1. USC 284-300-295-289-1168
2. UCLA 289-295-298-292-1174
3. Duke 299-300-300-281-1180
4. Purdue 298-304-303-283-1188
5. Arizona State 290-301-301-297-1189
6. Denver 293-294-308-296-1191
6. Texas A&M 295-299-299-298-1191
8. Arkansas 298-297-302-297-1194
9. Florida 301-299-297-299-1196
10. Georgia 297-303-303-295-1197
10. Wake Forest 293-306-306-292-1197
12. Virginia 296-317-301-301-1215
12. Auburn 289-315-309-302-1215
12. Alabama 296-311-306-302-1215
15. LSU 300-315-312-295-1222
16. UNLV 314-297-304-308-1223
17. TCU 298-310-312-307-1227
17. Texas 298-319-309-301-1227
19. Oklahoma State 294-312-307-315-1228
19. Tulsa 297-317-310-304-1228
21. UC Davis 298-319-315-302-1234
22 South Carolina 306-316-310-303-1235
23. Arizona 307-309-314-310-1240
24 Furman 312-313-315-313-1253

Individual Leaders
1. Azahara Munoz, Arizona State* 69-72-73-73-287
1. Tiffany Joh, UCLA 74-69-72-72-287
3. Garrett Phillips, Georgia 71-74-71-73-289
4. Belen Mozo, USC 69-71-75-75-290
5. Amanda Blumenherst, Duke 75-71-77-68-291
5. Anna Nordqvist, Arizona State 75-73-72-71-291
5. Stephanie Sherlock, Denver 71-73-77-70-291
8. Ashley Freeman, Texas A&M 71-72-74-75-292
8. Stacy Lewis, Arkansas 73-72-75-72-292
8. Sydnee Michaels, UCLA 69-74-75-74-292
8. Dewi Claire Schreefel, USC 73-78-72-69-292
* Won playoff for medalist

Virginia
28. Lene Krog 70-82-74-73-299
34. Jennie Arseneault 71-79-76-74-300
80. Joy Kim 79-79-74-77-309
84. Calle Nielson 78-77-78-77-310
101. Whitney Neuhauser 77-85-77-78-317