LYNN WINS WOMEN’S GOLF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!
Lynn and Nova Southeastern battled right down to the final holes in Saturday’s final round of the NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Championship, and in the end, the Fighting Knights halted the Sharks’ streak of four consecutive titles with a three-stroke victory.
Coming into the final 18 holes on Saturday, Lynn trailed NSU by a mere stroke. The Knights completed the four-day event with a total of 1,187, which was just enough to surpass Nova Southeastern’s final tally of 1,190. Barry, which turned in the lowest round of the day at 300, completed an SSC sweep of the top three with a final score of 1,194.
"National champs has a great ring to it," said second-year Lynn head coach Danny Randolph. "I am extremely proud of our team and all they have accomplished as their hard work and perseverance has paid off. We carried ourselves with confidence and class and no better group deserves to call themselves national champions."
The Buccaneers also got a national title in the individual column, as Nancy Vergara, who had sat in second place following each of the first three rounds, tallied a three-over 75 to finish with a grand total of 291 (+3). She held off NSU’s Linnea Johansson (292) by one stroke. Daniela Ortiz also completed an All-SSC top-three in the individual standings by taking third with a final tally of 294.
"It was amazing," Vergara said. "I was hitting the ball pretty solid the four days. I was prepared to play with the leader today. In the last three holes, everything came together, and I won."
The SSC trio of teams was really in a league of their own throughout the tournament. Fourth-place St. Edward’s finished 32 strokes behind Barry with a final score of 1,226. Fifth place went to Grand Canyon concluded the championship with a 1,235.
In similar fashion, the SSC golfers dominated the individual standings. In addition to sweeping the top three spots, Sunshine State golfers took 8 of the top 11 spots.
Lynn’s Ellen Chambers placed fourth with a 295 (+7). Her teammate, Louise Manalo, clinched sixth place with a 297. NSU’s Abbey Gittings tied for seventh with a mark of 299. Rollins’ Annie Dulman and Lynn’s Samantha Smolen tied for ninth with a 300.
"I had an overwhelming sense of joy knowing we had just won the national championship when I walked off No. 18," Manalo said. "I'm very proud of my team and feel this is well deserved because it was a group effort that got us here and helped us win. We all have each others back and that is what a team is about."
Lynn’s national title was its second NCAA crown, as the Fighting Knights also won in 1997 when the Division II and III championships were combined.
Since Division II gained a championship of its own in 2000, an SSC team has won every year, with Lynn’s victory on Saturday marking 14 straight for the storied league. Nova Southeastern had won the past four championships from 2009-12. Rollins won in 2008, and Florida Southern took the title in 2007. The Tars reeled off four straight from 2003-06. Florida Southern took three in a row from 2000-02.
Final Standings