Chattanooga Ties for 12th at NCAA Central Regional

Junior Maria Juliana Loza misses trip to finals in a playoff after firing four birdies in final six holes

NOTRE DAME, Ind. --- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's golf team finished tied for 12th at the NCAA Central Regional on Warren Golf Course.  Chattanooga shot 305 in the final round for a 54-hole total of 917 to tie with No. 14 Tulane.

Maria Juliana Loza (Bucaramanga, Colombia) was the story today for the Mocs.  The junior mechanical engineering major posted her third straight top 10 tying for eighth at seven-over par 223.  Her round ended with plenty of fireworks after playing the first 12 holes at four over.

"I told Maju I needed her to get back to even if we were going to have a chance to advance," said head coach Colette Murray.  "It was a tall order, but she is an amazing competitor."

Loza immediately birdied 13 followed by pars on 14 and 15.  She then turned in back-to-back-to-back birdies to get back to level par shooting 72.  While it was not enough to get the Mocs in the top eight, it was enough to get her a shot at advancing to the NCAA Championship as an individual.

In tying for eighth she had to wait out the afternoon rounds along with countrywoman Maribel Lopez Porras of Tulane.  There was a lightning delay to make it drag on that much longer and ended with a playoff between the two friends for the final spot.

At dusk, with fog rising in the fairway, Porras opened with a nice drive down the right side of the fairway that Loza matched on the left.  Loza missed the fairway with her second shot, but both competitors ended up on the front of the green putting up a false front to a tough hole location.

Loza went first and her effort ran six feet past the hole.  Porras left hers four-and-a-half feet short.  Loza's par effort just slid by the hole before Porras rattled hers in to take the spot.

Loza shot rounds of 73, 78 and 72 for her 223 tying with Porras and four others in eighth. 

Christine Wolf (Igls, Austria) claimed a top 20 tying for 18th at 225 (+9) with a 74 (+2).  It was her best finish in three regional appearances.  Wolf completed her collegiate career today while also graduating with a degree in marketing and management.

Fellow senior Emma de Groot (Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia) ended her career tying for 41st at 230.  Her final round 77 was much like her second round 76 in that the final holes proved costly.  Over the final 36 holes, de Groot played 1-13 at two over, while playing plus seven on holes 14-18.

"Emma and Christine are the foundation this program is built upon," Murray added.  "I could not ask for two better people to start a program with."

Jordan Britt (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Marion Duvernay (Publier, France) shot twin 82s.  While neither student-athlete played to expectations, each has a very bright future.

"Obviously it wasn't the way either one wanted to end the season," Murray continued.  "But there is a lot for them to take away from this experience to improve for the future.  They will be much better for it.

"It's hard to really think much about the future," she concluded.  "We weren't just happy to be here, our program is past that point.  We came here to challenge for a win and advance to finals and fell short."

Eight teams advanced to the NCAA Championship along with the two individuals from non-qualifying teams.  No. 2 UCLA won the event at 890 (+26) by four over No. 8 LSU.  Minnesota, Arkansas, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Stanford and Wake Forest also punched tickets to Bryan, Texas.  Lindy Duncan (Duke) and Porras claimed the individual berths.

Stephanie Kono (UCLA) and Megan McChrystal (LSU) shared medalist honors at two-over par 218.  Austin Ernst (LSU) and Emily Tubert (Arkansas) tied for third one shot off the pace at 219 (+3).

The regional performance does not take away from the strong regular-season the Mocs put together.  UTC won four times tying the school record for titles in a season (2007-08).  All six team members received honors from the Southern Conference as de Groot (Golfer of the Year) and Murray (Coach of the Year) captured top honors.

LEADERBOARD

1) No. 2 UCLA	291-301-298	890 (+26)
2) No. 8 LSU	295-303-296	894 (+30)
3) Minnesota	301-297-299	897 (+33)
4) No. 11 Arkansas	307-303-289	899 (+35)
5) Notre Dame	298-305-298	901 (+37)
6) Ohio State	306-301-298	905 (+41)
7) No. 24 Stanford	302-306-300	908 (+44)
8) No. 15 Wake Forest	312-304-293	909 (+45)
9) No. 5 Duke	302-314-297	913 (+49)
10) Northwestern	302-306-306	914 (+50)
11) No. 17 Texas	306-307-303	916 (+52)
T12) Chattanooga	303-309-305	917 (+53)
T12) No. 14 Tulane	313-302-302	917 (+53)
14) Kent State	304-311-304	919 (+55)
15) Wisconsin	314-305-310	929 (+65)
17) North Texas	311-314-310	935 (+71)
17) Oklahoma State	312-312-313	937 (+73)
18) Michigan	316-307-315	938 (+74)
19) Illinois	313-309-318	940 (+76)
20) East Carolina	315-316-314	945 (+81)
21) UNLV	318-325-311	954 (+90)
22) Morehead State	319-326-310	955 (+91)
23) Illinois State	329-317-320	966 (+102)
24) Butler	316-325-329	970 (+106)
Mocs:
T8) Maria Juliana Loza	73-78-72	223 (+7)
T18) Christine Wolf	75-76-74	225 (+9)
T41) Emma de Groot	77-76-77	230 (+14)
T89) Marion Duvernay	78-80-82	240 (+24)
T112) Jordan Britt	84-79-82	245 (+29)

 

 

Postseason Run Ends For Furman's Kenoyer At NCAA Regional

Daytona Beach, Fla. -- Furman senior Stefanie Kenoyer (71-78-78=227) capped her Paladin career with a six-over 78 on Saturday morning in the NCAA Women's Golf East Regional at the LPGA International's par-72 Legends Course in Daytona Beach, Fla.

In fourth place after Thursday's opening round, Kenoyer posted back-to-back rounds of 78 on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning to fall out of contention for a spot in the NCAA Championship May 18-21, in Bryan Texas.

Kenoyer (+11), who finished in a tie for 52nd place, recorded a double bogey on her opening hole and suffered a bogey on No. 3 to start three-over through three holes.  The Lighthouse Point, Fla., native notched a birdie at No. 4 and played the remainder of the front nine at par, but two bogeys on the back side and a double bogey at No. 16 ended her chances of a berth in the NCAA Championship.

"Obviously I'm sad to see my college career come to an end, but I couldn't have imagined a better place than Furman to spend my 4 years playing," said Kenoyer, who will join the LPGA Futures Tour this summer.  "I have had the best coaches and teammates I could ever ask for and it has been an incredible experience. Now I just have to prepare myself for professional golf and hope to enjoy it as much as I have my college years."

A 2008 and 2009 SoCon individual medalist, Kenoyer captured SoCon Player of the Year honors in both 2009 and 2010.  She is a three-time National Golf Coaches Association All-Scholar Team member and received Furman's annual Student-Athlete Achievement Award last month.

Alabama's Stephanie Meadow (-9) captured individual medalist honors finishing six strokes ahead of California's Pia Halbig (-3).  Alabama (+2), North Carolina (+4), Arizona State (+7), Coastal Carolina, California, Purdue, Florida and Vanderbilt all qualified for the NCAA Championship field.

 

Whittaker Concludes Play in NCAA Regional Championship

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Junior Leigh Whittaker shot a final round 10-over 82 to finish play at the 2011 NCAA Women's Golf East Regional Championship Saturday at LPGA International.

Whittaker shot rounds of 79-76-82=237 (+21) for the tournament and finished tied for 104th.

"Even though it's not the result we were hoping for I saw things these last few days that we can build on for next year," said CofC Head Coach Jamie Futrell. "It was a good experience for Leigh and I expect her to come back strong for her senior season."

Despite the difficulty Whittaker said she enjoyed the tournament.

"It was fun competing against so many great players and seeing some good friends," she said. "I'm excited to get home to Germany, play some tournaments, and then return to Charleston for a great year."