Monday, May 7
Durango, Colo.
7:00 AM
California Baptist University
vs
NCAA Division II Super Region IV Championships
Lancers Advance to First-Ever D-II Championships
5/9/2018 3:20:00 PM | Women's Golf
RESULTS
DURANGO, Colo. – For the first time in program history, California Baptist University is headed to the NCAA Division II Championships after it clinched a top-three spot in the Super Region IV Tournament on Wednesday.
"There are so many emotions right now, it feels amazing. We have fought hard so many years and come up short," Coach Marc Machado said. "It doesn't feel real right now, getting to the D-II national championship is so hard, only 12 teams make it."
CBU produced its best outing of the week, shooting 12-over-par 300 in the third and final round at the Hillcrest Golf Club to finish with a 909 (305-304-300). It gave the 11th-ranked Lancers the last ticket out to the D-II Championships. They were never really in danger of slipping out of the top-three, as it enjoyed a 19-stroke cushion over fourth-place Tarleton State (928).
"We just grinded the whole time this week," Machado said. "I am really proud of the entire team, if one person dropped off, the other four picked them up. It was a brutal grind on this golf course, it was hilly and windy and you can tell by how high the scores are."
Third-ranked Dallas Baptist (901) and No. 14 West Texas A&M (907) finished first and second, respectively, in the regional. The Lancers will take a ton of confidence into the next round of the postseason after it topped No. 3 DBU on the last two days of the tournament, as CBU shot 604 and Dallas Baptist carded a 608.
"It shows you we have the talent on a day-to-day basis, we just have to put it all together for an entire tournament," Machado said.
All five Lancers finished in the top half of the 66-player field, with top-30 finishes. Three CBU golfers shot 75 or better on Wednesday. The three juniors in the Lancers' lineup led the way in the third round.
Erica Wang had a team-best, one-over-par 73, while Yifei "Sunny" Wang carded a two-over 74 and Kristyna Abrahamova chipped in a three-over 75. Sophomore Samantha Martirez also scored for the Lancers with a 78.
Erica birdied three times on Wednesday and played the front nine even par before finishing her final four holes one-over.
"We always talk about the last four holes here and we reinforce our four pillars: attitude, effort, heart and short game," Machado said. "The team truly believes in it; we are building a strong culture here."
Sunny logged three birdies and an eagle and went even par on the back nine, including an even stretch over the last five holes.
"I am really proud of Sunny because the entire tournament she just did not feel good," Machado said. "We didn't know if she was going to be able to play, but she said there was no way she wouldn't play. She cares about the team and the team cares about her. She battled through, walked this hilly golf course and shot 74 today."
Abrahamova birdied two of her first four holes and was also just one over her final nine and four holes, with a bogey at 15 breaking up eight other pars on the back nine. Martirez birdied twice and played her final six holes one-under.
"We had a lot of people bounce back this week," Machado said. "Sam struggled on the front nine, but she pulled it together and played great on the back."
Erica's final round moved her 10 spots up the individual leaderboard with a 229 (74-82-73). It tied with her for 12th place overall with freshman teammate Jocelyn Chee (229, 73-74-82).
"Chee has been a crucial part of our spring success, she has been on fire for us," Machado said. "The freshman had four top-three finishes individually coming into the postseason for us."
Martirez (77-78-78) and Sunny (81-78-74) both tied for 24th place with 233s, while Abrahamova took 30th with a 234 (85-74-75). West Texas A&M's Holly Winter and Oklahoma Christian's Kate Goodwin tied for first place in the individual standings with 223s.
"I am really proud of Kristyna, with how she responded after he first round," Machado said. "I knew she would bounce back after shooting 85 in the first round and she did in a huge way. We wouldn't have been in the position we are in had she not bounced back."
Houston's Bay Oaks Country Club will host the 2018 Division II Championships May 16-19, which will include CBU for the first time. A top-three finish regionally was an accomplishment that had eluded the Lancers since it joined Division II in 2014. They have qualified for the postseason all five years and finished fourth in the region in 2017 and 2015, fifth in 2016 and sixth in 2014 to just miss out on advancing to the D-II Championships each time.
It was an impressive achievement for a CBU team that graduated three key senior starters last season and do not have a senior on their roster this season.
"We started peaking and believing at the right time," Machado said of his team's historic success. "We had a slow build in the spring and adding Sunny in the spring really gave us some confidence."
DURANGO, Colo. – For the first time in program history, California Baptist University is headed to the NCAA Division II Championships after it clinched a top-three spot in the Super Region IV Tournament on Wednesday.
"There are so many emotions right now, it feels amazing. We have fought hard so many years and come up short," Coach Marc Machado said. "It doesn't feel real right now, getting to the D-II national championship is so hard, only 12 teams make it."
CBU produced its best outing of the week, shooting 12-over-par 300 in the third and final round at the Hillcrest Golf Club to finish with a 909 (305-304-300). It gave the 11th-ranked Lancers the last ticket out to the D-II Championships. They were never really in danger of slipping out of the top-three, as it enjoyed a 19-stroke cushion over fourth-place Tarleton State (928).
"We just grinded the whole time this week," Machado said. "I am really proud of the entire team, if one person dropped off, the other four picked them up. It was a brutal grind on this golf course, it was hilly and windy and you can tell by how high the scores are."
Third-ranked Dallas Baptist (901) and No. 14 West Texas A&M (907) finished first and second, respectively, in the regional. The Lancers will take a ton of confidence into the next round of the postseason after it topped No. 3 DBU on the last two days of the tournament, as CBU shot 604 and Dallas Baptist carded a 608.
"It shows you we have the talent on a day-to-day basis, we just have to put it all together for an entire tournament," Machado said.
All five Lancers finished in the top half of the 66-player field, with top-30 finishes. Three CBU golfers shot 75 or better on Wednesday. The three juniors in the Lancers' lineup led the way in the third round.
Erica Wang had a team-best, one-over-par 73, while Yifei "Sunny" Wang carded a two-over 74 and Kristyna Abrahamova chipped in a three-over 75. Sophomore Samantha Martirez also scored for the Lancers with a 78.
Erica birdied three times on Wednesday and played the front nine even par before finishing her final four holes one-over.
"We always talk about the last four holes here and we reinforce our four pillars: attitude, effort, heart and short game," Machado said. "The team truly believes in it; we are building a strong culture here."
Sunny logged three birdies and an eagle and went even par on the back nine, including an even stretch over the last five holes.
"I am really proud of Sunny because the entire tournament she just did not feel good," Machado said. "We didn't know if she was going to be able to play, but she said there was no way she wouldn't play. She cares about the team and the team cares about her. She battled through, walked this hilly golf course and shot 74 today."
Abrahamova birdied two of her first four holes and was also just one over her final nine and four holes, with a bogey at 15 breaking up eight other pars on the back nine. Martirez birdied twice and played her final six holes one-under.
"We had a lot of people bounce back this week," Machado said. "Sam struggled on the front nine, but she pulled it together and played great on the back."
Erica's final round moved her 10 spots up the individual leaderboard with a 229 (74-82-73). It tied with her for 12th place overall with freshman teammate Jocelyn Chee (229, 73-74-82).
"Chee has been a crucial part of our spring success, she has been on fire for us," Machado said. "The freshman had four top-three finishes individually coming into the postseason for us."
Martirez (77-78-78) and Sunny (81-78-74) both tied for 24th place with 233s, while Abrahamova took 30th with a 234 (85-74-75). West Texas A&M's Holly Winter and Oklahoma Christian's Kate Goodwin tied for first place in the individual standings with 223s.
"I am really proud of Kristyna, with how she responded after he first round," Machado said. "I knew she would bounce back after shooting 85 in the first round and she did in a huge way. We wouldn't have been in the position we are in had she not bounced back."
Houston's Bay Oaks Country Club will host the 2018 Division II Championships May 16-19, which will include CBU for the first time. A top-three finish regionally was an accomplishment that had eluded the Lancers since it joined Division II in 2014. They have qualified for the postseason all five years and finished fourth in the region in 2017 and 2015, fifth in 2016 and sixth in 2014 to just miss out on advancing to the D-II Championships each time.
It was an impressive achievement for a CBU team that graduated three key senior starters last season and do not have a senior on their roster this season.
"We started peaking and believing at the right time," Machado said of his team's historic success. "We had a slow build in the spring and adding Sunny in the spring really gave us some confidence."
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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