Stepanek's Hole-In-One Sparks Terps
5/13/2006 8:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
May 13, 2006
BROWNS SUMMIT, N.C. - Katie Stepanek fired an even-par 72, including a hole-in-one on the par-3 12th hole, to lead the University of Maryland to a 14th-place finish Saturday in the team standings at the NCAA East Regional Women's Golf Tournament, as the Terrapins were making their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Championship.
Maryland shot a 299 as a team in Saturday's final round, finishing with an 898 total. The Terrapins finished only nine shots out of 10th place and just one stroke behind South Carolina in the final team standings. The top eight teams advanced to the NCAA National Championship, to be held in Columbus, Ohio, later this month.
Alabama edged Virginia in a one-hole playoff for the eight position, as each school finished tied at 887. Tennessee shot a 286 on Saturday to rally past LSU for the team title. The Lady Vols finished at 864, beating LSU by six shots in the final standings. California, Florida State, Arizona State, Auburn and Wake Forest joined Alabama as teams advancing to the nationals.
Stepanek had Maryland's best individual round on Saturday with the 72. Her three-round total of 225 led the Terrapins in the 54-hole event, as she finished in a tie for 44th. Katie Trotter and Kelly MacWhinnie each tied for 54th with a 226 total, with Trotter finishing the tournament with a final-round 74. Jessica Reno closed with a 77 on Saturday for a 228 total and a tie for 69th, while Kelly Calkin had a 234 total and tied for 92nd individually.
Stepanek shot a 1-over-par 37 on the front nine on Saturday and was even when she aced the par-3 12th hole. Her 72 was her best round of the tournament.
Trotter went out in 36, but suffered a tough stretch early in the back nine. She eagled the par-5 15th hole and finished the day with a 74. Reno also shot an even-par 36 on the front nine on Saturday.
Marci Turner of Tennessee shot a 69 on Saturday to claim the individual title with a 7-under-par total of 209. She won by two strokes over Allisa Kuczka of Arizona State, who used her final-round 68 to jump from seventh into second place on the final day.
Full results of the tournament are available at www.golfstat.com.
TEAM STANDINGS
1. Tennessee 292-286-286--864; 2. LSU 288-288-294--870; 3. California 288-295-291--874; T4. Florida State 297-289-292--878; T4. Arizona State 307-284-287--878; 6. Auburn 293-301-285--879; 7 Wake Forest 296-293-294--883; T8. Alabama* 295-293-299--887; T8. Virginia 303-293-291--887; 10. North Carolina 296-296-297--889; T11. Augusta State 308-293-290--891; T11. Vanderbilt 296-300-295--891; 13. South Carolina 296-297-304--897; 14. MARYLAND 305-294-299--898; 15. College of Charleston 309-292-298--899; 16. NC State 303-301-302--906; 17. Furman 298-308-304--910; 18. Campbell 308-302-301--911; 19. East Carolina 313-295-308--916; 20. Yale 308-296-315--919; 21. Mississippi State 313-304-308--925.
* - Alabama earned eighth place and final national berth in one-hole team playoff.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
1. Marci Turner, Tennessee, 70-70-69--209; 2. Alissa Kuczka, Arizona State 75-68-68--211; T3. Mandy Goins, Wake Forest 70-70-73--213; T3. Caroline Westrup, Florida State 71-72-70--213; 5. Caroline Martens, LSU, 73-68-73--214.
MARYLAND SCORES
T44. Katie Stepanek 79-74-72--225; T54. Katie Trotter 82-70-74--226; T54. Kelly MacWhinnie 72-78-76--226; T69. Jessica Reno 77-74-77--228; T92. Kelly Calkin 77-76-81--234.
