Furman’s Anna Morgan capped off a sizzling first nine holes with an eagle to post a 30 on her scorecard and start a move up the leader board that would earn her a trip to the NCAA Finals.
The Southern Conference Player of the Year moved up 14 spots on the final day to finish in a tie for fifth place.
Morgan finished at 5-under par 67 tying for the low round of the Stillwater Regional on the Karsten Creek course.
More important than the fifth place finish was the tournament within the tournament.
Morgan was the top finisher among individuals whose teams did not make the top-four to advance to Grayhawk for the NCAA Championship.
“I am super happy to have made it to the NCAA Championship after how well I played today in the final round at regionals,” said Morgan ” I’m also so excited to play in my first national championship because it is something I’ve wanted to do since I first got to Furman and can’t wait for an awesome experience,” she added.
The Lady Paladins made a final day rally to move up a spot in the final standings by shooting their best round of the tournament. Furman posted a 2-over par 290 to finish sixth.
Only the top-four teams advanced to the Championship. Baylor won the Region with a 1-over par total followed by Arizona State, Oklahoma State and Auburn.
“I’m very proud of the team for the way everyone played, not only all week, but especially today in the final round,” said Furman head coach Jeff Hull. “It was great to see everybody contribute and really get started off so well,” he said.
Furman came close to having two golfers move on to the championship as individuals.
Sophia Burnett finished regulation play in a four-way tie for the second individual spot to advance out of the Stillwater Regional.
Burnett shot a final round 1-under par 71 to tie for tenth place with Carla Bernat from Tulane, Leile Raines from Michigan State and Clemson’s Savannah Grewal
Burnett birdied the first playoff hole to force a replay of the 18th hole, but the second time around Michigan State’s Raines eagled the par-5 hole to win the playoff and a trip to the Finals.
” We are proud of Sophia and Anna for their fine play at the regional and excited about Anna advancing to next week’s national championship,” said Hull.
Morgan will compete in the stroke play portion of the championship beginning on on May 20th.
The Lady Paladin junior will follow up her play in the NCAA Championship with a trip to the US Women’s Open in Pinehurst at Mid-Pines starting on June 2nd.
Morgan won a sectional qualifying tournament at Pine Needles in Pinehurst earlier this month for the opportunity to play in the USGA championship.
NCAA Stillwater Regional scores https://results.golfstat.com/public/leaderboards/gsnav.cfm?pg=player&tid=25453
Categories: College Golf, Furman golf
