May 12, 2007
Baton Rouge, La. - After a hard fought weekend, the Auburn women's golf team concluded the NCAA East Regional in fourth place, earning a bid to the NCAA Championship. Nicole Hage turned in a career best regional finish as the senior placed fourth. The three-day tournament was hosted by LSU at the par 72, 6,403-yard University Club.
The Tigers shot a 2-under on the day (293-282-286--861), the lowest score in a final round this season, to advance to the NCAA Championship, May 23-25, at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Tiger's three-day score of 861 was the second lowest team mark ever recorded at Auburn.
"I am extremely proud of how our girls played this weekend," head coach Kim Evans said. "They really battled back the last two days and we played a great two rounds of golf. We met our goal of advancing to the NCAA Championship and we look forward to finishing our season with a chance to bring home the national title."
Of the three other SEC teams competing in the East Region, Alabama was the only one to advance. The Crimson Tide grabbed the seventh spot (287-289-292--868). South Carolina was just edged out, finishing in a tie for ninth (290-289-295--874), while LSU took 14th (287-295-299--881).
Other teams advancing from the NCAA East Region were top-seeded Duke, who shot a school-record 16-under on Saturday to finish two strokes ahead (291-281-272--844) of second-seeded UCLA (281-283-282--846). Also advancing were Wake Forest (284-284-290--858), Purdue (285-290-287--862), North Carolina (290-292-280--862) and Louisville (286-289-295--870).
Hage took top honors for the Tigers with a regional career best fourth place finish, firing a 9-under (68-70-69--207) for the tournament. Her score of 207 marked a career high. Hage was followed by Margaret Shirley in a tie for 36th (75-70-73--218), Abigale Schepperle tied for 44th (76-71-72--219), Candace Schepperle finished tied for 48th (73-73-72--220) and Marisa Milligan tied for 62nd (75-71-78--224).
UCLA's Sydnee Michaels took the individual title carding an impressive 13-under (68-68-69--203) for the tournament. She was followed by Amanda Blumenherst of Duke (73-70-63--206) and Tiffany Joh of UCLA at 10-under (70-68-68--206).
Auburn has now advanced from the NCAA Regional tournament to the NCAA Championship 11 of the last 12 years. Last season, the Tigers finished 12th at the NCAA Championship.