Jamie Jacob of Cal State San Marcos captured the individual national title, but the Cougars lost to Florida Tech, 4-1, in the medal match play final in the NCAA Division II Women’s Championships on the Champion Course at PGA National Golf Club http://www.pgaresort.com in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Jacob, a junior from Encinitas, gave Cal State San Marcos its only point in the finals with a five-stroke victory over Noelle Beijer of Florida Tech.
Lucy Eaton of Florida Tech came from six strokes back to beat Breann Horn by one shot, while Paola Ortiz gave the Panthers a four-stroke victory over Bergen Benedict, Megan Dennis beat Savannah Magallon by one shot and Lauren Watson downed Claire Hogle by three.
Cal State San Marcos, coached by Jennifer Johnson, defeated Dallas Baptist, 3-2, in the quarterfinals and upset defending national champion Indianapolis, also by 3-2, in the semifinals.
Florida Tech reached the finals by beating Findlay, 3-2, in the quarterfinals and getting past Southwestern Oklahoma State, also by 3-2 in the semis.
This was the first time the NCAA Women’s Division II was determined by medal match play. Previously, the winner was decided by four rounds of stroke play.
Florida Tech also won stroke play qualifying ahead of medal match play with a score of 315-303-305—923, followed by Cal State San Marcos at 299-314-314—927 and Indianapolis at 306-299-326—931.
Barry University totaled 304-306-328—938 to tie for fourth with Southwest Oklahoma State, which finished at 305-317-316—938, while Limestone College was sixth at 306-317-316—939, followed by Dallas Baptist at 308-314-318—940 and Findlay at 318-310-316—944.
Jacob claimed the national title, her third victory of the season and eighth of her Cal State San Marcos career, with a score of 72-72-75—219, even par, followed by Gloria Choi of Southwest Oklahoma State at 72-73-75—220 and Eaton of Florida Tech at 77-70-75—222.
“Just seeing Jaime’s reaction a few minutes ago was pretty special,” Johnson said. “We just all wanted her to pull it out and I’m glad it went in her favor.”
Anahi Servin of Academy of Art in San Francisco, playing as an individual, shot 73-71-79—223 to tie for fourth with Beijer of Florida Tech, who wound up at 73-78-72—223.
Ann Parmerter of Dallas Baptist was sixth at 76-76-73—225, while Jaya Rampuri of Simon Fraser shot 75-77-74—226 to tie for seventh with Tilda Larsson of Barry University, who finished at 74-75-77—226, and Pilar Echeverria of Indianapolis, who came in at 74-72-80—226, and Makenzie Torres of Findlay was 10th at 77-74-76—227.
Rounding out the scoring for Cal State San Marcos were Horn in 21st at 78-79-76—233, Hogle in a tie for 28th at 69-83-85—237, Magallon in a tie for 57th at 80-82-84—246, and Benedict in a tie for 62nd at 87-81-79—247.
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