STILLWATER, Okla. – Fighting to the finish, No. 10 Arizona State women's golf finished day three in a four-way tie for 15th but due to tiebreaking procedures, their season ended with a cut to the top-15 on day three of the NCAA Championships (T16).
"I am really proud of this team," said head coach Missy Farr-Kaye. "We have had a very challenging spring with Linnea [Strom] turning pro and Sophia [Zeeb] spraining her ankle, she's been really tough. We played one tournament with only four players. I'm just really proud."
The Sun Devils moved up five places on Sunday and a birdie on 18 by sophomore Olivia Mehaffey gave ASU a fighting chance. The four-way tie was broken with the best cumulative drop (fifth-player) score as Louisville earned the final spot.
Senior Sophia Zeeb, in her final collegiate tournament, played a masterful round, shooting a one-under 71 with four birdies, at or below par on eight of the front nine and on 16 of 18 holes total.
Fellow senior Roberta Liti finished her collegiate career on a high note with a birdie on 18 while freshman Raquel Olmos also finished her first year on the same high note. Junior Madison Kerley birdied two of the last three on the front nine, three total across the round, and shot at or below par on 15 of 18.
"I think a lot of people didn't think we'd get here, let alone tie for 15th and have a chance to play tomorrow. Our biggest struggle this spring, and I just couldn't figure it out, was starting. Once we started, we were fine and we played beautifully the last two days."
In their nation-leading 34th NCAA Championship appearance, the Sun Devils improved each day of the tournament, cutting off 17 strokes between days one and two and another five on day three.
"I love the fight and the resilience in this team; it's really important to me as a coach. I would've liked to have given our two seniors one more day, but they have so much to be proud of in their time at Arizona State. They'll always be national champions and I'm really proud of them."
The collegiate careers of Liti, the Elite 90 Award winner and Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and Zeeb, a WGCA All-American Scholar who earned her degree in Marketing just over a week ago, come to a close with the end of the championships.
"Our returners, they understand it, they want to be here and want to be fighting for NCAA Championships. Olivia, Raquel, and Madison are going to come back and be ready to go."
The eight-time national champions look forward to the start of the 2018-19 season which will also bring two freshmen and a transfer to the roster.
"I am really proud of this team," said head coach Missy Farr-Kaye. "We have had a very challenging spring with Linnea [Strom] turning pro and Sophia [Zeeb] spraining her ankle, she's been really tough. We played one tournament with only four players. I'm just really proud."
The Sun Devils moved up five places on Sunday and a birdie on 18 by sophomore Olivia Mehaffey gave ASU a fighting chance. The four-way tie was broken with the best cumulative drop (fifth-player) score as Louisville earned the final spot.
Senior Sophia Zeeb, in her final collegiate tournament, played a masterful round, shooting a one-under 71 with four birdies, at or below par on eight of the front nine and on 16 of 18 holes total.
Fellow senior Roberta Liti finished her collegiate career on a high note with a birdie on 18 while freshman Raquel Olmos also finished her first year on the same high note. Junior Madison Kerley birdied two of the last three on the front nine, three total across the round, and shot at or below par on 15 of 18.
"I think a lot of people didn't think we'd get here, let alone tie for 15th and have a chance to play tomorrow. Our biggest struggle this spring, and I just couldn't figure it out, was starting. Once we started, we were fine and we played beautifully the last two days."
In their nation-leading 34th NCAA Championship appearance, the Sun Devils improved each day of the tournament, cutting off 17 strokes between days one and two and another five on day three.
"I love the fight and the resilience in this team; it's really important to me as a coach. I would've liked to have given our two seniors one more day, but they have so much to be proud of in their time at Arizona State. They'll always be national champions and I'm really proud of them."
The collegiate careers of Liti, the Elite 90 Award winner and Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and Zeeb, a WGCA All-American Scholar who earned her degree in Marketing just over a week ago, come to a close with the end of the championships.
"Our returners, they understand it, they want to be here and want to be fighting for NCAA Championships. Olivia, Raquel, and Madison are going to come back and be ready to go."
The eight-time national champions look forward to the start of the 2018-19 season which will also bring two freshmen and a transfer to the roster.