Women's Golf finishes ninth at NCAA Central Regional, Ferrero advances to NCAA Championship
LUBBOCK, Texas -- The 21st-ranked Texas women's golf team missed advancing to the NCAA Championship by one stroke after shooting a 21-over-par 309 in the final round of the NCAA Central Regional (Rawls Course: Par 72, 6,328 yards) to finish in ninth place at 52-over-par (290-317-309'6). Senior Lisa Ferrero (Lodi, Calif.) will represent the Longhorns at the NCAA Championship after securing one of the two individual spots by finishing in a tie for fourth place at six-over-par (70-73-79"2). Auburn took the team title at 32-over-par (294-309-293 °/°°6) and the Tigers' Diana Ramage earned medalist honors, finishing at four-under-par. With the top eight finishers advancing to the NCAA Championship, Texas finished one stroke behind Arkansas for the final qualifying position, snapping a seven-year run at the national tournament. Along with Auburn and Arkansas, Texas A&M, Missouri, Arizona State, Tulsa, Purdue and Michigan State advanced from the NCAA Central Regional. The top two individuals not on one of the qualifying teams also advance to the national tournament. Ferrero took the first slot and LSU's Brook Shelton earned the second spot after defeating Michigan's Brianna Broderick in a playoff. Ferrero entered the final round with a two-shot lead, but a seven-over-par 79 during the final round dropped her into a tie for fourth. She will be looking to become Texas' first individual medalist at the NCAA Championship since Heather Bowie accomplished the feat in 1997, the last time Texas did not advance to the national tournament as a team. Senior Mariana Salazar (Torreon, Mexico) finished her Longhorn career by tying for 13th place at nine-over-par (75-77-73"5), her second-best finish of the season and her top finish at NCAA competition. She was the low Longhorn during the final round with a one-over-par 73. Senior Perry Swenson (Charlotte, N.C.) also wrapped up her Texas career at the NCAA Regional and tied for 56th place at 17-over-par. She posted a seven-over-par 79 on Saturday to go with a 72 and an 82 during the first two rounds. Freshman Kelley Louth (Victoria, Texas) and sophomore Julia Best (Bulverde, Texas) completed their first NCAA competition by finishing in a tie for 68th place and 96th, respectively. Louth carded a six-over-par 78 on Saturday to finish at 20-over-par, while Best shot a seven-over-par 79 to finish at 28-over-par. Ferrero will begin play at the NCAA Championship on Tuesday, May 17 at Meadows Golf Course in Sunriver, Ore. Final Team Standings Individual Top Five Other Texas Individuals
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