Women’s Golf advances to NCAA Championship

Saturday, May 7

Traditions Club - Bryan, Texas

All day

University of Texas

NCAA Regional Championship

05.07.2016 | Women's Golf

The Longhorns finished in sixth place to qualify for their first NCAA Championship since 2013.

BRYAN, Texas — Texas Women's Golf finished in sixth place at the NCAA Bryan Regional to advance to the NCAA Championship for the 25^th time in the program's history and the first time since 2013.

It marks Head Coach Ryan Murphy's first NCAA Championship appearance as the Longhorns' head coach in his second season.

Junior Julia Beck led the Horns with a 1-under par finish to tie for 12^th, following her first two rounds of 70 and 71 with a third-round 74. She started the round by stringing together two bogeys and two birdies on the first four holes and one of each on the sixth and seventh holes. She concluded the front nine with a bogey to sit at 1-over par on the turn, before making two bogeys and one birdie on the back nine to end the day 2-over par.

Beck made 13 birdies over the course of the weekend, the third-most of any player.

Her 1-under finish marks the second-straight tournament she has finished under par and the fourth this season.

Junior Haley Mills also finished in the top 20 after carding a third-round 75 after a 73 and 69. Mills made two birdies and five bogeys to conclude the regional at 1-over par and in 18^th place.

Senior Natalie Karcher climbed seven spots on the third day for a tie for 35^th, also shooting a 75. She began the day with a double bogey and a bogey, but fired back with birdies on holes four and seven to enter the back nine 1-over par. She made three bogeys on the back nine before making a birdie on her final hole of the day to give the Longhorns a one stroke advantage.

Sophomore Sophia Schubert finished the weekend at 8-over par and in a tie for 42^nd with her 75-71-78. She made 11 birdies during the weekend.

Senior Tezira Abe moved up four spots after the final day with a third-round 80 to finish with a 240.

As a team, Texas finished 15-over par with a third-round 302, following rounds of 293 and 284.

Georgia won the Bryan Regional at 6-under par, with UCLA's Bronte Law and Georgia's Bailey Tardy tying for medalist honors.

The Longhorns will play in the NCAA Championship starting on Friday, May 20 at Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Ore.

Post-Tournament Comments

Senior Tezira Abe

On qualifying for the NCAA Championship: Everyone on this team has worked really hard throughout the season, so it's really great to see it begin to pay off. I'm especially proud of my fellow senior. Natalie played like a true leader and helped lift us up this week. Without her, we wouldn't have been able to get it done.

Senior Natalie Karcher

On making a birdie on 18 to give Texas the advantage: I honestly had no clue where we were standing and was just trying to make the putt like any other one. It was only when I heard the screams from the crowd that I realized how big it was! Ending my four years at Texas by going to nationals with my team is absolutely incredible! I'm so excited to be able to live this experience.

Junior Julia Beck

On today's finish: I'm proud of the way the team was able to grind out a qualifying spot in the tough conditions today. It's a big accomplishment just getting to the National Championship. We are looking forward to Oregon and competing for the national title.

Junior Haley Mills

On her play this weekend: I was feeling really good coming into this week, because I am very familiar with the course and I won an event here my freshman year. I played solid and had my first hole-in-one on Friday, which was exciting! It's always great to beat the home team on their course and we accomplished that this week. The conditions on the final day were tough, but we managed to get the job done. We are excited to get to Oregon!

Head Coach Ryan Murphy

On today's finish: It was really a perfect storm for us today. We just needed to hang in there, but the conditions were tough and the wind was strong. But we did hang in there and I'm very proud of the team. They have worked really hard and we are really excited to keep playing.

NCAA Regional - Bryan

FINAL

Traditions Golf Club (Par 72, 6,373 yards)

Team Leaderboard

1. Georgia 284-284-289=858 (-6)

2. Arizona 285-283-297=864 (E)

3. UCLA 289-279-297=865 (+1)

4. Furman 288-286-299=873 (+9)

5. Miami 290-288-299=877 (+13)

6. TEXAS 293-284-302=879 (+15)

7. Tulane 298-287-295=880 (+16)

8. Kent State 298-285-298=881 (+17)