Wednesday, May 16
Houston
6:00 AM
California Baptist University
vs
NCAA Division II Championships
CBU Fights Way To Runner-Up Finish in D-II
5/19/2018 3:53:00 PM | Women's Golf
RESULTS
HOUSTON – An impressive fourth round and incredible final putt catapulted California Baptist University three spots up the leaderboard for a runner-up finish at the NCAA Division II Championships on Saturday at the Bay Oaks Country Club.
CBU produced the second-best round of the day with a nine-over-par 297 on Saturday. It gave the Lancers a 72-hole total of 1195 (293-304-301-297) that was one-stroke better than third-ranked Dallas Baptist's 1196.
Indianapolis ran away with the team title thanks to an 1157 total, while the Lancers matched the best-ever finish in the NCAA from a CBU program. Men's swim/dive took second in D-II this season and women's basketball reached the D-II championship game in 2015.
"I am blown away," Coach Marc Machado said. "I got so emotional talking to the team after today, I was tearing up because I am just so proud of them. We sacrificed so much: time with family, friends and social time. This team has been playing so much golf, they are exhausted, but they really believed. They looked so great and so professional on this course that was so difficult, especially the last four holes."
It is an even more impressive feat considering CBU accomplished all of this in its first-ever Division II Championship appearance, without a single senior on its roster and entered the tournament ranked 11th in the division overall.
"We just stuck to our team motto and our philosophy, team is greater than I," Machado said. "Our theme was attitude, heart and work ethic for this tournament. We had to bounce back and they just really bought in."
For CBU, the difference between second and third place all came down to a 20-foot bogey putt from junior Yifei "Sunny" Wang on the 18th hole, who was the last CBU golfer left on the course and playing in front an audience of all her teammates.
The hole – perhaps the most challenge of the course -- did not start out well for Wang. The midseason transfer from Fresno State found herself in the water and needed to rally to make bogey. The significance of the next two shots was not lost on her, either.
"After she landed in the water I told her she needed to hit her next shot close to the hole and make the putt for us to take second," Machado said. "She went on to make this 20-foot, downhill putt and we all erupted. I couldn't believe it."
Wang personified the fight and resiliency the Lancers showed all week and all season on that final hole.
"They just fight, this team continues to surprise me and raise the bar," Machado said. "That's how this team is, they are a bunch of fighters. If they have a bad hole or a bad round they bounce back and finish strong. They fight for their team, for the university and I am so proud of them."
While second place may have all come down to one shot, the effort and performance from the whole team on Saturday, over the whole tournament and season put the Lancers in that position. Depth continued to be the driving force for CBU, as three Lancers shot 75 or better in the fourth round and all five finished in the top 35 of the 72-player field.
Yifei was the final scorer for the Lancers, with a 78, but Kristyna Abrahamova was not far off with an 80. Yifei compiled a 72-hole total of 298 (72-73-75-78) that was good for 15th place individually to lead the Lancers on the leaderboard.
"Kristyna has come so far in her leadership, she always fights and does what is best for the team," Machado said.
True freshman Jocelyn Chee led the way for CBU with a two-under-par 70 on Saturday. It was tied for the fifth-best round of the whole tournament, as Chee had just one bogey in her round and birdied three times at holes six, nine and 11.
"Jocelyn is only 17-years old and she has just blossomed this spring. I can't wait for three more years with her," Machado said.
Erica Wang and Samantha Martirez, the two CBU returners in the lineup from last season, carded a 74 and 75, respectively, on Saturday, as well.
"Erica has been a tremendous captain for us, her attitude is impeccable," Machado said. "I haven't met someone so nice, genuine and positive in my life. We wouldn't be here without her leadership."
Erica and Martirez both birdied twice in putting together their impressive rounds.
"Sam is such a talented player and she has come such a long way for us this year," Machado said.
Erica took 15th in the tournament overall with a 299 (75-78-72-74), while a 301 (73-77-76-75) from Martirez secured her a 21st-place finish, Chee came in 27th with a 304 (76-79-79-70). Abrahamova wound up 34th with a 307 (73-76-78-80).
"It was just a total team effort, I told these ladies we don't have one standout player who we can just rely on," Machado said. "We have five girls who play solid for us. We can count on all five of them at any given point, when one goes down another steps up -- they just fight."
HOUSTON – An impressive fourth round and incredible final putt catapulted California Baptist University three spots up the leaderboard for a runner-up finish at the NCAA Division II Championships on Saturday at the Bay Oaks Country Club.
CBU produced the second-best round of the day with a nine-over-par 297 on Saturday. It gave the Lancers a 72-hole total of 1195 (293-304-301-297) that was one-stroke better than third-ranked Dallas Baptist's 1196.
Indianapolis ran away with the team title thanks to an 1157 total, while the Lancers matched the best-ever finish in the NCAA from a CBU program. Men's swim/dive took second in D-II this season and women's basketball reached the D-II championship game in 2015.
"I am blown away," Coach Marc Machado said. "I got so emotional talking to the team after today, I was tearing up because I am just so proud of them. We sacrificed so much: time with family, friends and social time. This team has been playing so much golf, they are exhausted, but they really believed. They looked so great and so professional on this course that was so difficult, especially the last four holes."
It is an even more impressive feat considering CBU accomplished all of this in its first-ever Division II Championship appearance, without a single senior on its roster and entered the tournament ranked 11th in the division overall.
"We just stuck to our team motto and our philosophy, team is greater than I," Machado said. "Our theme was attitude, heart and work ethic for this tournament. We had to bounce back and they just really bought in."
For CBU, the difference between second and third place all came down to a 20-foot bogey putt from junior Yifei "Sunny" Wang on the 18th hole, who was the last CBU golfer left on the course and playing in front an audience of all her teammates.
The hole – perhaps the most challenge of the course -- did not start out well for Wang. The midseason transfer from Fresno State found herself in the water and needed to rally to make bogey. The significance of the next two shots was not lost on her, either.
"After she landed in the water I told her she needed to hit her next shot close to the hole and make the putt for us to take second," Machado said. "She went on to make this 20-foot, downhill putt and we all erupted. I couldn't believe it."
Wang personified the fight and resiliency the Lancers showed all week and all season on that final hole.
"They just fight, this team continues to surprise me and raise the bar," Machado said. "That's how this team is, they are a bunch of fighters. If they have a bad hole or a bad round they bounce back and finish strong. They fight for their team, for the university and I am so proud of them."
While second place may have all come down to one shot, the effort and performance from the whole team on Saturday, over the whole tournament and season put the Lancers in that position. Depth continued to be the driving force for CBU, as three Lancers shot 75 or better in the fourth round and all five finished in the top 35 of the 72-player field.
Yifei was the final scorer for the Lancers, with a 78, but Kristyna Abrahamova was not far off with an 80. Yifei compiled a 72-hole total of 298 (72-73-75-78) that was good for 15th place individually to lead the Lancers on the leaderboard.
"Kristyna has come so far in her leadership, she always fights and does what is best for the team," Machado said.
True freshman Jocelyn Chee led the way for CBU with a two-under-par 70 on Saturday. It was tied for the fifth-best round of the whole tournament, as Chee had just one bogey in her round and birdied three times at holes six, nine and 11.
"Jocelyn is only 17-years old and she has just blossomed this spring. I can't wait for three more years with her," Machado said.
Erica Wang and Samantha Martirez, the two CBU returners in the lineup from last season, carded a 74 and 75, respectively, on Saturday, as well.
"Erica has been a tremendous captain for us, her attitude is impeccable," Machado said. "I haven't met someone so nice, genuine and positive in my life. We wouldn't be here without her leadership."
Erica and Martirez both birdied twice in putting together their impressive rounds.
"Sam is such a talented player and she has come such a long way for us this year," Machado said.
Erica took 15th in the tournament overall with a 299 (75-78-72-74), while a 301 (73-77-76-75) from Martirez secured her a 21st-place finish, Chee came in 27th with a 304 (76-79-79-70). Abrahamova wound up 34th with a 307 (73-76-78-80).
"It was just a total team effort, I told these ladies we don't have one standout player who we can just rely on," Machado said. "We have five girls who play solid for us. We can count on all five of them at any given point, when one goes down another steps up -- they just fight."
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
Beyond The: Course w/ Baiplu Pusanisa Ekkantrong
Wednesday, May 28
CBU Palm Walks - Sofia Chabon
Friday, February 04
CBU Palm Walks - Belle Balkan
Friday, February 04
CBU Women's Golf WAC Tournament - Round 3
Wednesday, April 21
