STANFORD, Calif. – Navy women's golf finished its 2021 season with an 18th-place finish during its first appearance at the NCAA Regionals. During the three rounds at the Stanford Regional, the Midshipmen posted a score of 73-over par 925. Navy carded its lowest round of the week during Tuesday's round after finishing with a 21-over par 305. The Midshipmen also finished with team scores of 29-over par 313 during the first round and 23-over par 307 in the third and final round of the week on Wednesday.
"What an amazing opportunity for us to experience," head coach
Nadia Ste-Marie said after the tournament. "Our young team has done a remarkable job this semester considering all of the speed bumps along the way. They will remember this time and cherish the moments shared for a lifetime."
In the field that included 95 golfers,
Angelina Chan (So., Franklin, Tenn.) guided the Midshipmen with a 10-over par 223 (73-76-74) to place tied for 52nd. She posted Navy's lowest scores during the first and third rounds after notching a 2-over par 73 on Monday followed by a 3-over par 74 on Wednesday to finish out the week. The sophomore also led the Midshipmen with nine birdies throughout the tournament including a team-high four during the second round en route to her 5-over par 76. Chan closed out the tournament on a strong note with two birdies over her final three holes of the week.
Stephanie Lee (Fr., Southlake, Texas) was the second Navy golfer in the field after finishing tied for 84th with a 21-over par 234 (85-73-76). Following her 14-over par 85 on Monday, the freshman rebounded with a 2-over par 73 during the second round for the Midshipmen's lowest score on Tuesday. Lee – who finished with four birdies throughout the tournament and had two each in her final two rounds – carded a 5-over par 76 on Wednesday.
Tori Smith (Jr., Arlington, Tenn.) stayed consistent throughout the week with three-straight 8-over par 79s to finish tied for 88th at 24-over par 237. Smith had the most birdies for Navy during the final round with three to finish the week with five.
The pair of
Christine McDonnell (Sr., Suwanee, Ga.) and
Mara Hirtle (Fr., Pinehurst, N.C.) finished tied for 90th with scores of 26-over par 239. Hirtle recorded her best round of the week on Wednesday with a 7-over par 78. The freshman also carded an 8-over par 79 and an 11-over par 82. McDonnell's low-round of the tournament was during the second round with a 6-over par 77. McDonnell started the tournament with an 11-over par 82 and finished with a 9-over par 80. Hirtle finished the regional with two birdies and McDonnell finished tied for second on the team with five birdies.
Stanford ran away with the regional title on its home course after finishing with a 28-under par 824, which was 30 strokes ahead of second-place Wake Forest who finished at 2-over par 854. Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech, Arizona and USC rounded out the six teams to advance to the national championship later this month at the Grayhawk Country Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Stanford had the top-two finishers in the field with Rachel Heck posting an 11-under par 202 to win medalist honors just ahead of Angelina Ye's 10-under par 203. The three individual qualifiers for the national championship from the regional included San Jose State's Kajsa Arwefjall, Fresno State's Brigitte Thibault and Denver's Anna Zanusso – who were the top three finishers not on the six advancing teams.
