Women's Golf | 5/16/2015 6:39:00 PM
Photo Gallery - Final RoundALLENDALE, Mich. – The eighth-ranked St. Edward's Women's Golf team had things rolling on its final nine holes, primed to move up to fourth place in Saturday's final round of the NCAA DII Championships at the Meadows Golf Club. The teams they were trailing hung on at the end, even after a valiant effort from the Hilltoppers, as they finished sixth in the nation. Senior
HALEY HAUGHT played her best round of the tournament and moved up to fourth place individually.
St. Edward's (319-313-310-305=1247) came into the final round tied with #2 Nova Southeastern (317-309-316-304=1246) for sixth place. They would pass up #14 Central Oklahoma (312-308-314-315=1249) who fell victim to the difficult back nine. The Hilltoppers had Nova Southeastern and #18 Tarleton State (320-305-310-310=1245) in their sights. With both of those teams playing hole 18 at a combined 13-over par, the spots were there for the taking. St. Edward's could not get enough putts to fall as three Hilltoppers had par on the final hole, while Haught made birdie. They would have to settle for sixth place, which still keeps the Hilltoppers from finishing now lower than eighth place in all four of their championship appearances.
"We played our best round today and gave fourth place a valiant effort," St. Edward's Head Coach Jennifer McNeil said. "Unfortunately, we fell a little short. I'm so proud of my team. They have battled hard all year and have impressed me so much by their competitiveness."
Sixth-ranked Indianapolis (305-299-309-299=1212) held on for the title as they battled top-ranked Rollins College (306-314-304-293=1217), who finished in second place. Third-ranked Lynn (321-304-300-300=1225) ended up in third place.
Haught (74-78-76-73=301), who finished fifth in last season's NCAA Championship, did herself one better, taking home fourth-place honors. She started the day in a tie for sixth place but registered birdies at holes 11 and 14. After two hiccup bogeys at the 17
th and 18
th, Haught moved on to the easier front nine. She started off the nine with sixth-straight pars. Things seemed to be going south for the senior after bogeys at the seventh and eighth holes, but she rallied with a birdie on the final hole of her collegiate career. Haught was outstanding, defeating six of the top-10 players in the nation during the week.
"I am so proud of Haley," McNeil said. "Words cannot describe how much she's meant to our team, and how she has worked to shape and change our program for the better. To finish fourth on this golf course, in the conditions we encountered, is remarkable. She never gave up, never backed down, and ended her career with a bang."
Haught would finish four shots behind Midwestern State's Brenna Moore (74-73-74-76=297), who qualified for the tournament as an individual.
SANDY LIVAS (81-76-78-74=309) saved her best round of the tournament for the final day. The sophomore transfer made 16 pars on the day, compared to just two bogeys. She ended her round with nine-straight pars to keep the Hilltoppers in contention for fourth place. She moved up two spots to finished tied 20
th in her first national appearance.
JOHANY RIVERA (83-80-73-76=312) followed her brilliant third round with a very solid final one. The freshman, and Heartland Conference Tournament medalist, shot four-over par on the back nine, but capped off her first year as a Hilltopper by playing her final nine holes at par. She finished tied for 27
th place.
MARISSA BRANSBURG (81-79-83-82=325) finished in 54th place, while
ISABEL MORALES (84-84-86-84=338) ended in 69th place.
St. Edward's capped off its excellent season with a sixth-place finish. Not too shabby for a team that was ranked second in the region and eighth in the nation. Even though the Heartland Conference Tournament Championship eluded them, they played their best golf when they needed it most.
