This Week in Michigan Women's Golf: NCAA Championships
5/15/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
May 15, 2017
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• Honors & Awards: 2016-17 | Video Feature: Elodie Van Dievoet | Scholar Story: Grace Choi
THIS WEEK
Fri-Wed., May 19-24 -- at NCAA Championships (Sugar Grove, Ill.)
Live Scoring | NCAA Championships | Championships Central | Rich Harvest Farms
Next on the Tee: NCAA Championships
Back-to-back! The University of Michigan women's golf team returns to the NCAA Championships for the second straight year and third time in team history. The Wolverines travel to Sugar Grove, Illinois, Friday through Wednesday, May 19-24, for the NCAA Finals. The six-day, 72-hole and team match-play event will be held at Rich Harvest Farms and feature a 24-team field and 12 invited individuals, competing for an opportunity to win the NCAA individual and team crowns. The championship will be played in a 5-count-4 format with the Rich Harvest Farms set up for a par of 72 at 6,343 yards.
The NCAA Championships Format
All 24 teams and 12 individuals will complete 54 holes of stroke play. Following 54 holes of competition, the top 15 teams along with the top nine individuals not on an advancing team will advance for one additional day of stroke play to determine the top eight teams for match play and the 72-hole stroke-play individual champion. The top eight teams will be placed into a match-play bracket to determine the team national champion.
The NCAA Championships Field
The NCAA championships feature a 24-team and 12-individual field competing for the national individual (132 players) and team titles at the Rich Harvest Farms. Seeding for the finals will be:
1. Stanford
2. Alabama
3. Florida
4. Florida State
5. USC
6. Arizona State
7. Duke
8. Furman
9. South Carolina
10. Northwestern
11. Miami (Fla.)
12. Kent State
13. Texas
14. Baylor
15. California
16. Purdue
17. Ohio State
18. Michigan
19. Texas Tech
20. Pepperdine
21. North Carolina
22. Clemson
23. Oregon
24. Michigan State
Individuals
1. Cara Gorlei, Arkansas
2. Susie Cavanagh, Oregon State
3. Maya Walton, Princeton
4. Julienne Soo, Oklahoma
5. Alex White, BYU
6. Nadine White, Campbell
7. Laura Fuenfstueck, College of Charleston
8. Bianca Pagdanganan, Gonzaga
9. Camila Serrano, Florida International
10. Jennifer Kupcho, Wake Forest
11. Martina Edberg, Cal State Fullerton
12. Maddie Szeryk, Texas A&M
The NCAA Championships Schedule
Tuesday, May 16 -- Travel Day
Wednesday, May 17 -- Registration and course walk-around
Thursday, May 18 -- Practice Round (18), 9:30 a.m. CDT (shotgun start off No. 12)
Friday, May 19 -- First Round (18), 7:30 CDT (tee times off No. 1) #
Saturday, May 20 -- Second Round (18), Noon CDT (tee times off No. 10) #
Sunday, May 21 -- Third Round (18), 7:30 a.m. CDT (tee times off No. 1 and 10) ^
Monday, May 22 -- (if advance) Final Round (18), 11:30 a.m. CDT (tee times off No. 1 and 10)*
Tuesday, May 23 -- (if advance) Match Play First Round, 7 a.m. CDT (tee times off No. 1 and 10)
Tuesday, May 24 -- (if advance) Match Play Semifinal, 1:30 p.m. CDT (tee times off No. 1)
Wednesday, May 25 -- (if advance) Match Play Championship, 2:10 p.m. CDT (tee times off No. 1)
# U-M will play first and second rounds with Ohio State and Purdue
^ Tee times will be based upon team standing
* Field cut to top 15 teams after 54 holes for final round; playing for individual title and team match play seeding
The NCAA Championships TV Schedule
The Golf Channel will broadcast more than 21 hours of coverage during the 2017 NCAA Championships starting with Monday's final 18 holes of qualifying to Tuesday and Wednesday's match play.
» Monday, May 22 -- Pre-Round Coverage, 3-4 p.m. CDT
» Monday, May 22 -- (Live) Final Round, 4-7 p.m. CDT
» Monday, May 22 -- Post-Round Coverage, 7-8 p.m. CDT
» Tuesday, May 23 -- Pre-Match Coverage, 9:30-10:30 a.m. CDT
» Tuesday, May 23 -- (Live) Quarterfinal Matches, 10:30-12:30 p.m. CDT
» Tuesday, May 23 -- Post-Match Coverage, 12:30-1:30 p.m. CDT
» Tuesday, May 23 -- Pre-Match, 3-3:30 p.m. CDT
» Tuesday, May 23 -- (Live) Semifinal Matches, 3:30-7 p.m. CDT
» Tuesday, May 23 -- Post-Match, 7-8 p.m. CDT
» Wednesday, May 24 -- Pre-Match Coverage: 1-3 p.m. CDT
» Wednesday, May 24 -- (Live) Championship Match, 3-7 p.m. CDT
» Wednesday, May 24 -- Post-Match Coverage: 7-8 p.m. CDT
The NCAA Championships Lineup
Michigan will have five players travel to the national championship, including senior Grace Choi, juniors Megan Kim and Emily White, sophomore Elodie Van Dievoet and freshman Alisa Snyder.
Michigan in the NCAA Postseason
Michigan has been represented in NCAA postseason competition by the team or an individual 12 times, making team appearances in 2001, '02, '05, '07, '09, '11, '12, '16 and '17. Laura Olin (2004), Amy Schmucker (2006) and Ashley Bauer (2010) made Central Regional appearances as individuals. The Maize and Blue has advanced to the NCAA Finals three times in program history. U-M finished 17th at the 2002 event held at Washington National in Auburn, Washington, tied for 18th at the 2016 event held at Oregon Country Club in Eugene, Oregon and has this year's 2017 event held at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois.
Below is a look at how the Wolverines have fared during NCAA postseason action:
• 2001, East Regional - 12th of 21 (308-308-309/925) - program's first invitation
• 2002, Central Regional - 6th of 21 (313-322-294/929)
• 2002, NCAA Finals - 17th of 24 (301-299-299-300/1199) - first advancement to NCAA Finals
• 2004, Central Regional - Laura Olin, individual, t-17th (75-76-78/229)
• 2005, Central Regional - 15th of 21 (301-320-305/926)
• 2006, Central Regional - Amy Schmucker, individual, t-71st (80-82-78/240)
• 2007, Central Regional - 13th of 21 (311-305-310/926) - hosted at U-M Golf Course
• 2009, Central Regional - 17th of 21 (312-321-327/960)
• 2010, Central Regional - Ashley Bauer, individual, t-76th (78-87-80/245)
• 2011, Central Regional - 18th of 24 (316-307-315/938)
• 2012, Central Regional - 16th of 24 (315-316-306/937)
• 2016, Alabama Regional - 6th of 18 (311-304-300/916)
• 2016, NCAA Finals - t-18th of 24 (296-299-292/887) - second advancement to NCAA Finals
• 2017, Columbus Regional - 6th of 18 (312-293-303/908) - third advancement to NCAA Finals
The 2002 NCAA Championships
In just its second NCAA Regional appearance, Michigan battled the elements the first two days of the Central Regional at Michigan State's Forest Akers West Course (May 9-11, 2002) in East Lansing before charging back with a final-round 294 to vault itself into a sixth-place finish and qualify for its first trip to the NCAA Championships. Moving on to Washington National, U-M finished 17th at NCAAs, and its 1,199 NCAA total set the U-M record for a 72-hole tournament by 17 strokes, bettering the old record of 1,216 set at the 2000 Big Ten Championships. Bess Bowers' 291 NCAA total set the U-M record for a 72-hole tournament by 11 strokes, bettering the old mark of 302 set by Sharon Park (1996-99) at the 1998 Big Ten Championships. [ Recap ]
The 2016 NCAA Championships
In arguably one of the best seasons in program history, Michigan capped off a record breaking season advancing to its first NCAA Finals appearance in 14 years. Opening with three top-5 finishes in four events, the fall was highlighted by U-M's record-breaking performance in the finale -- the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown (Oct. 25-27, 2015). After carrying the fall momentum into the spring, the postseason started with a sixth-place showing at the Big Ten Championships (April 22-24, 2016), leading to U-M's first NCAA regional bid in four years. With another sixth-place finish, the Maize and Blue advanced to the NCAA Finals for just the second time in program history. Heading to Eugene, Oregon and the Eugene Country Club for a shot at the national title, the Wolverines tied for 18th, just missing the first team cut by four shots. [ Recap ]
Match Play Preparations
• With the new match-play format for the NCAA Finals, Michigan and Wisconsin have co-hosted the East & West Match Play Challenge the last three years -- twice in Ann Arbor (Radrick Farms Golf Course; 2014 & 2016) and in Madison (University Ridge; 2015).
• The event gave teams an opportunity to sample the NCAA Finals format with 36 holes of stroke play for seeding followed by two days of match play to crown a champion.
• Some of the teams that came to Ann Arbor to play in the unique event include: Miami, Fla. (2014), Ohio State (2014, '16), Oregon (2015, '16) and Purdue (2014) -- all participants in the 2017 Finals.
• Michigan is 3-7 over the last three events -- 2-4 in 2014, 0-2 in 2015 and 1-1 in 2016.
• Wolverine career match play records (NCAA lineup): Megan Kim (6-4), Emily White (5-5), Alisa Snyder (1-1), Grace Choi (4-6) and Elodie Van Dievoet (1-3).
NCAA Columbus Regional
• Michigan advanced to its second straight NCAA Finals following a sixth-place team finish at the NCAA Columbus Regional (May 8-10) at the Scarlet Course. U-M finished with a 908 (312-293-303) total.
• Tied with Colorado for the sixth and final advancing spot, Elodie Van Dievoet sank a dramatic 18-foot birdie putt the 18th hole to break the tie and send the Wolverines to the finals.
• Van Dievoet led the Wolverines finishing ninth individually with a 221 (74-71-76) total. It was her sixth top-10 finish of the season and eighth time closing as the top Wolverine in an event.
• After opening with rounds of 81 and 83, Megan Kim was instrumental in U-M's final-round push, birdieing three of her final five holes to post the Wolverines' top final round tally at 74 (+2).
• Overall it was U-M's ninth regional appearance and second straight team appearance.
Big Ten Championships
• Michigan posted a fifth place finish at the 2017 Big Ten Championships, held at the TPC River's Bend in Maineville, Ohio. U-M posted an 892 (295-304-293) team total.
• Elodie Van Dievoet used three straight sub-par rounds to post a career-best and U-M Big Ten Championships record 210 (-6) to win the program's first Big Ten individual title.
• Trailing by four shots going into the final round, Van Dievoet used an even side and back-to-back birdies on Nos. 10 and 11 to draw even with MSU's Sarah Burnham. Van Dievoet's third backside birdie of the day gave her a 70 (-2) and one shot lead. With Burham parring out her four remaining holes, she closed with a 75 (+3), and Van Dievoet watched from the 18th green as she won the program's first-ever Big Ten Individual title.
• In her first Big Ten Championships, Alisa Snyder used her first career sub-par round to fire a career-best 70 (-2) to rally and earn a top-25 finish, closing 24th at 227 (75-82-70)
2016 Fall Season Review
• Michigan opened the 2016-17 season with four fall events, including hosting the East & West Match Play Challenge (Sept. 18-20) at Radrick Farms. Finishing seventh in qualifying, U-M stayed seventh after going 1-1 in its matches.
• After a two week break, the Wolverines responded in their opening stroke play event finishing sixth at the Cougar Classic (Oct. 2-4). Elodie Van Dievoet's 211 (-5) helped U-M to an 863 (-1) team performance at Yeamans Hall Club. For her efforts, Van Dievoet was named the Big Ten Golfer of the Week.
• With a challenging field of 17, including 13 among the top 60, U-M was 12th at the North Carolina's Ruth's Chris Invitational (Oct. 14-16) with an 894 total. U-M's Grace Choi led at 222, while Megan Kim posted a 223 and Emily White a 224.
• Closing out the fall, rains may have canceled the second and third rounds of the Trinity Forest Invitational (Nov. 7-8), but it didn't stop the Wolverines from taking home U-M head coach Jan Dowling's first U-M win. Led by 75s by White and Van Dievoet, each tying for sixth, the Wolverines' 304 was enough to capture the title.
2017 Spring Season Review
• Following a near three-month winter break, the Wolverines opened the spring with their highest finish ever at Purdue's Lady Puerto Rico Classic (Feb. 12-14), closing ninth. Elodie Van Dievoet tied for 12th (219) and Grace Choi tied for 20th (222).
• Michigan earned its best finish in five trips to the Hurricane Invitational (Feb. 27-March 1) closing as the runner-up. Emily White and Van Dievoet tied for third individually at 213 (-3), Megan Kim collected her fourth career top-10 finish, tying for ninth (217, +1)
• With a 290 final-round team total, Michigan tallied an 888 54-hole total to finish fifth at the Meadow Club Women's Intercollegiate (March 6-7). Van Dievoet, who tied for seventh (217, +1), closed with a career-best 67 (-5) in the final round, thanks to five birdies and 13 pars.
• With 11 top-40 programs in the 18-team field, Michigan was eighth at the Bryan National Collegiate (March 31-April 2). Choi posted her first top-10 finish of the season and fifth of her career, tying for ninth.
• Battling strong winds throughout the event, Michigan finished sixth at the Lady Buckeye Invitational (April 15-16). In what would be a preview of its regional appearance on the Scarlet Course, Van Dievoet led the Wolverines, tying for 12th. Playing in a 6-count-4 format, all six Wolverines closed among the top 50.
WOLVERINE BITES
• U-M has shown no signs of stopping its improvement under U-M head coach Jan Dowling. The Wolverines are putting together a 296.83 per round team average, which is just behind last year's record (295.56). Elodie Van Dievoet (73.10), Grace Choi (74.60) and Megan Kim (75.40) are in a battle for the individual scoring lead. Overall, there have been 23 individual sub-par individual rounds -- led by Van Dievoet's 11 and Choi's six.
• Michigan has remained consistent throughout each 54-hole event this season, posting 889.20 per event. In the first round, U-M averages 297.82 as a team while in the second drops to a team-best same at 296.10 before staying nearly the same in the final round is at 296.44. Overall, the Wolverines average 296.83 as a team, which is on pace to become just the second season in program history to average less than 300.
• Grace Choi is expected to make her 42nd career start at the NCAA Championships. In 41 starts, she has 14 top-20 individual finishes. She carries a U-M record pace 74.83 career scoring average and holds U-M records for a single round (65, -7, tie), 36-hole total (139, -5) and 54-hole total (205, -11, tie). Last season, Choi helped the Wolverines to their first regional appearance in four years and advanced to the NCAA Finals for the just the second time in program history.
• Elodie Van Dievoet became the ninth Wolverine to earn All-Big Ten first team honors. Van Dievoet gives U-M back-to-back seasons of a first team selection after current senior Grace Choi, who was awarded this year's Big Ten's Sportsmanship honor, earned the accolade last season. Throughout U-M's history, 13 total players have garnered All-Big Ten honors.
• With a U-M 54-hole Big Ten tournament and personal career-best of 210 (-6), Elodie Van Dievoet became the Wolverines golfer to capture the Big Ten individual title. After leading after the first day with a 69 (-3), her second round 71 (-1) saw her drop four strokes back of Michigan State's Sarah Burnham, who blistered the field with her conference record 63 (-9). With Burnham closing with a 75, Van Dievoet continued a steady path with a 70 (-2) to take medalist honors by a single shot. Michigan has had three runner-ups in its history.
• Elodie Van Dievoet has led the Wolverines with a strong spring, finishing as the top Wolverine in six of seven events. She is on pace to break the single-season scoring record with her 73.10 per round mark -- Ashley Bauer (73.51, 2009-10). The sophomore leads U-M with 11 total sub-par rounds, including five of six sub-70 tallies which include a career-best 67 (-5) in the final round of the Meadow Club Women's Intercollegiate (March 6-7).
• Megan Kim continues to be a steady force for the Wolverines playing in 31 consecutive events, with 30 starts. This season she is averaging 75.40 and has three top-20. A notable is her ability to close in the final round. Averaging 75.91 in the first and 76.20 in the second, Kim is U-M's ace in the final round with her 73.89 average. In fact, it was one display at the NCAA Columbus Regional. After opening with rounds of 81 and 83, she rallied with a team-best 74 (+2), birdieing three of her last five holes to help U-M move to the NCAA Finals.
• With storms making the Trinity Forest Country Club unplayable, the tournament's final round was canceled, helping U-M close the fall with its first team title of the season at Baylor's Trinity Forest Invitational (Nov. 7-8). U-M was led by Elodie Van Dievoet and Emily White, whose rounds of 75 tied them for sixth place. The team title is the first since 2012, 33rd in team history and first under third-year head coach Jan Dowling.
• Emily White, who has played in 30 of a potential 31 career events, posted a season-best tie for third, along with teammate Elodie Van Dievoet, at the Hurricane Invitational (Feb. 27-March 1). White posted a season-best 213 (-3) event total after a season-low 70 (-2) in the first round. She followed with rounds of 72 (E) and 71 (-1). In her third season, she is averaging 76.33 per round.
• Newcomer Alisa Snyder has started eight of her 10 events this season, including starting all seven spring events. Averaging 76.81 per round, she fired a career-best 70 (-2) in the final round of the Big Ten Championships to finish 24th with a 227 tally. In fact, in five of her last seven events, she has been steady shooting tallies of 225 (Lady Puerto Rico, 226 (Hurricane Invite), 226 (Meadow Club), 225 (Bryan National) and 227 (Big Ten).
• With all the research completed, Wolverine newcomer Alisa Snyder appears to be the first left-handed women's golfer in program history. The men's program has had three known lefties -- Kevin Dore (2004-07), Brett McIntosh (2013-16) and current senior Reed Hrynewich.
• In addition to being lefties, Alisa Snyder and Reed Hrynewich are each fraternal twins. In fact, both sets of twins are collegiate golfers. Snyder's twin brother, Jack, is a freshman at New Mexico State, while Hrynewich's twin sister, Hailey, will be a senior at Ohio.
Communications Contact: Tom Wywrot
Players Mentioned
