Michigan
NCAA Columbus Regional
Borja, Chun Atop Leaderboard, U-M Third After First Day of NCAA Regional
5/10/2021 6:28:00 PM | Women's Golf
» Michigan posted a NCAA postseason program record with an even-par 288 team total and is in third place after the first day of the NCAA Columbus Regional.
» Hailey Borja is the first-day leader after tying her career low with a 69 (-3), while Monet Chun is tied for second a shot behind at 70 (-2).
» Ashley Lau posted four birdies in her final five holes to post a 73 (+1), putting her tied for 23rd.
» U-M will be paired with first-day leader Oklahoma (286, -2) and Duke (287, -1) for the second round, starting at 9:50 a.m. off the first tee.
Site: Columbus, Ohio
Course: OSU Golf Club Scarlet Course (par 72, 6,358 yards)
Tournament: NCAA Columbus Regional (Day 1 of 3)
U-M Team Standing: 3rd place of 18 teams (288, E) after Day 1
Top U-M Individual: Hailey Borja, 1st (69, -3)
Next U-M Round: Tuesday, May 11 -- at NCAA Columbus Regional (Columbus, Ohio), 9:50 a.m. (tee times)
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With sophomore Hailey Borja atop the leaderboard after shooting 69 (-3) and freshman Monet Chun in a tie for second (70), the 24th-ranked University of Michigan women's golf team posted an even-par 288 team total today (Monday, May 10) and is in third place after the first 18 holes of the NCAA Columbus Regional being played at the Ohio State University Golf Club's Scarlet Course.
The Wolverines find themselves just two shots behind first-day leader Oklahoma (286) and a shot back of defending national champions Duke (287) after the first round of the 54-hole event. The trio will be paired with each other for the regional's second round on Tuesday (May 11) starting at 9:50 a.m. off the first tee.
"They stayed patient with themselves and didn't panic through a difficult stretch, and they were rewarded for it in the final holes with a strong finish," said U-M head coach Jan Dowling. "For both Hailey (Borja) and Monet (Chun), it was their first time playing the course. What they did today was super impressive, and classy golf on a great test. We are excited for the next few days."
Tee times were pushed back two hours following rains that washed out the Sunday practice round. Playing in her first NCAA postseason, Borja birdied her opening hole and following with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 6-7 to make the turn at three under. After adding a fourth birdie on No. 12, she found herself atop the leaderboard at four under par with six holes to go. Bogeys on No. 14 and 16 gave two shots back, but she carded her team-best fifth birdie on No. 18 to finish the day with the lead. Those five red numbers helped Borja post her fifth sub-par round of the season and tie her career-low of 69 (-3) for the second time this season and third time of her career.
Chun opened her first NCAA postseason round by rattling off seven straight pars before a birdie on No. 8 put her in the red at the turn. A second birdie on the par-5 12th hole plus eight more pars gave her a clean 70 (-2), her fourth sub-par round of the season. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year is a shot back of Borja in a five-way tie for second place.
U-M's scoring leader, junior Ashley Lau, fought back to close at 73 (+1) and is tied for 23rd. She found herself quickly two over after back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 2 and 3 before she found her rhythm with six straight pars. A double on the 10th followed with a third bogey put Lau five over par, but she made four consecutive birdies starting on the par-4 14th hole and just missed a fifth on No. 18.
"Coach (Dowling) has always told us just take one shot at a time," said Borja. "Especially not have being able to play a practice round. We did not force any shots today and played our game. I am a strong believer in the round isn't over until it's actually over, and Ashley (Lau) definitely showed that today. She took advantage of those last couple holes. She played smart and safely but aggressively to make those putts fall. Today was a good day for all of us. I'm excited to see how the rest of the tournament will go."
By virtue on Lau's late birdie run, the Wolverines were able to gain two team shots and move from fifth to third with their even-par 288 -- U-M's sixth round at even par or better this season. In fact, the 288 is the Wolverines' lowest NCAA regional tally by five shots (293, 2017 NCAA Columbus Regional) and four shots better in all NCAA postseason rounds (292, 2016 NCAA Championships).
Team Standings (After Day 1 of 3)
1. Oklahoma 286 (-2)
2. Duke 287
3. MICHIGAN 288
4. Georgia 289
5. Arizona State 291
Kent State 291
7. Washington 296
Virginia 296
9. Vanderbilt 297
Illinois 297
11. Kentucky 298
Coastal Carolina 298
Campbell 298
14. Clemson 299
15. Nebraska 307
16. New Mexico 310
17. Youngstown State 322
18. Evansville 323
Top Individuals
1. HAILEY BORJA, U-M 69 (-3)
2. MONET CHUN, U-M 70
Gina Kim, Duke 70
Caley McGinty, Kent State 70
Kaitlin Milligan, Oklahoma 70
Leah Onosato, Old Dominion 70*
7. Sophia Carlsen, Coastal Carolina 71
Linn Grant, Arizona State 71
Jenny Bae, Georgia 71
Erica Shepherd, Duke 71
Candice Mahe, Georgia 71
Olivia Mehaffey, Arizona State 71
Libby Winans, Oklahoma 71
Virginia Bossi, Virginia 71
Other Michigan Individuals
T23. Ashley Lau 73 T53. Ashley Kim 76 T70. Mikaela Schulz 78
* playing as individual
Players Mentioned
