Hello Stanford Golf Fans:
Has it really been four months since I last updated everyone on the women's team? I think that says it all - we have been BUSY!
The season ended back in late May with a trip to Georgia for the NCAA Finals. After qualifying in fifth place at the NCAA Regionals, which were held right here at Stanford Golf Course, we made the trek back to Athens with 23 other teams from around the country. Univ. of Georgia hosted a wonderful Championship and the course proved to be tough for all the teams. We finished in 13th place, accomplishing our final goal for the season - a top-15 showing at NCAA's! We had a strong chance to finish top-10 but the final nine holes of competition, in tough conditions, proved to be too much for our young team this year and we let a few shots slip which ultimately moved us into 13th.
Overall, it was a terrific year and we are all excited to return next year. In summary, we had three team victories, two individual championships, an NCAA Scoring Record and Stanford Golf Course record, a 4th place finish at Pac-12's (best since 2001), three All-Conference Players and a First Team All-American. Mariah Stackhouse was the first freshman to be named to the All-American First Team since Mhairi McKay in 1994. It was an incredible year for Mariah Stackhouse; we are very proud of her accomplishments.
Sally Watson was named the Pac-12 Scholar Athlete in the sport of women's golf. This award is given to the graduating senior with the highest combined athletic and academic success in their given sport. It is a great honor and Sally is a very deserving recipient.
I recently returned from a quick trip to the US Women's Open in Sebonack, N.Y. Both Sally Watson and Mariah Stackhouse qualified to play in the nation's top professional event. Neither player made the cut but they handled themselves with a professionalism and grace that made me very proud. They sported their Stanford gear all week and even earned our program a shout-out on ESPN live coverage on Thursday!
The past month has been filled with Stanford Golf Camps. We have had a terrific amount of juniors come through our program this year. Many have never touched a club before and others are competing at the highest level in junior golf. It has been so fun sharing the game of golf with them and the same time, exposing them to Stanford University. Our staff includes other collegiate coaches and current college players, so the level of experience is high. We appreciate the opportunity to grow the game and share our enthusiasm.
The rest of the summer months will be spent recruiting and preparing for the teams return in September. No doubt, fall will come fast!
Thanks for what has been a terrific first year at Stanford. I look forward to what the future has in store. Have a great summer and Go Card!
Anne
