University of Oregon
NCAA West Regional
Nealy gains berth in NCAA Tournament; Oregon finishes 10th in West Regional
05/07/05 | Women's Golf
Senior Johnna Nealy defeated freshman Laura Leuthke of Fresno State in a two-hole playoff at the NCAA Western Regional, held Sunday at the New Mexico State University Golf Course, to earn an individual spot in the NCAA championships. Lueke shot a tournament-low 68 in her final round to force the playoff and both players shot par on the first playoff hole, but Nealy shot par on the second hole of the playoff, while Luethke made bogey.
The top two individuals from non-qualifying teams make the NCAA championships, and with Long Beach State's Kay Hoey claiming the first individual spot, Nealy and Luethke were forced into a playoff to determine the last individual qualifier.
As a team, the Ducks began the day in seventh place, in the hunt for a championship berth, but dropped to tenth place following a 20-over (308) performance. The Ducks finished six strokes out of qualifying for the championships.
Nealy, a Grants Pass, Ore. native, carded a 2-over on the final day, dropping her into a tie for 6th place, but the senior showed poise in the playoff and calmly shot par on both of the holes.
Kim McCready finished out the regional with a steady final round of 3-over, 75. The Placerville, Calif. native, was only 1-over after 15 holes, but bogeys on 16 and 17 kept her from placing in the top ten, as she finished tied for 11th place.
California's Sophia Sheridan ran away with the overall individual crown after a 2-under final round, cementing her win by five strokes over second place Violeta Retamoza of Tennessee.
UCLA shot 2-under as a team in the final round to move from fourth into a first place tie with Tennessee at 25-over (889). California had an even-par final round and moved into third position, facilitated largely by 9-over final round from USC, who led the tournament after Saturday's second round, but finished in fourth position after a 9-over final round.
Oklahoma State, UC Irvine, Brigham Young and Stanford rounded out the top eight and will all move onto the team competition at the NCAA Championships.
Other Oregon scorers included freshman Victoria Wenslow (T-48th, 6-over final round), Junior Erin Andrews (T-85th, 9-over final round), and Junior Michelle Timpani (T-103rd, 10-over final round).
The end of the West Regional also concludes the Ducks' team season. Nealy will play in the NCAA championships May 17th in Sunriver, Ore.
Final Round
6,319 yards, par 72
TEAM SCORES
T1, UCLA, 304-299-286-889;
TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS T1, Sophia Sheridan, California, 69-73-70-212; 2, Violeta Retamoza, Tennessee, 72-74-71-217. T3, Rachel Newren, Brigham Young, 69-78-71-218; Dewi Schreefel, USC, 73-71-74-218. 5, Kay Hoey, Long Beach State, 74-71-74-219. T-6, Sofie Andersson, California, 72-76-72-220; Laura Luethke, Fresno State, 76-76-68-220; Johnna Nealy, Oregon, 73-73-74-220; Karin Sjodin, Oklahoma State, 73-74-73-220. 10, Amie Cochran, UCLA, 76-73-73-222.
OTHER
Players Mentioned
