College Performers of the Week powered by Rapsodo: Michigan women’s golf

The Wolverines were led by medalist Monet Chun, who earned her first college win.

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Led by sophomore Monet Chun, who claimed medalist honors at 8 under following rounds of 70-66-69 for her first college win, the Michigan women claimed their first-ever Big Ten Championship by four shots over in-state rivals Michigan State to earn team of the week honors.

“There aren’t enough words to really capture all my thoughts,” said Chun. “However, for my first collegiate win to come at the Big Ten Championships, and the fact that I was able to help this program win the first ever team title is just so special. I feel so lucky.”

Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings: Women’s team | Women’s individual
College golf blog: The Road to Grayhawk

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Michigan State women’s team snags early lead at Big Ten Championship

The Michigan State women’s golf team ended the first day of this year’s Big Ten Championship the same way it finished last year’s event.

The Michigan State women’s golf team ended the first day of this year’s Big Ten Championship the same way it finished last year’s event: at the top of the leaderboard.

The Spartans combined to shoot a 2-under-par 282 Friday during the first round of this year’s tournament at Fox Chapel Golf Club in Pittsburgh. Michigan State holds a three-shot lead on its nearest competitors: in-state rival Michigan along with Purdue, which both ended at 1-over-par 285.

Leila Raines led the way for the No. 34 Spartans in the opening round. She carded a 3-under-par 68, giving her a share of the first-round lead alongside Nebraska’s Michaela Vavrova.

A sophomore, Raines had four birdies on her front nine.

Three other MSU golfers also finished the day among the top 20 on the individual leaderboard: sophomore Valentina Rossi and freshman Katie Lu are at even-par after shooting 71s, while senior Valery Plata is tied for 16th after a 1-over-par 72. Other Spartans competing include senior Haylin Harris and freshman Brooke Biermann, who both shot 73 (2-over par).

The Spartans are looking to win back-to-back Big Ten titles for the third time under coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll. MSU also won consecutive conference crowns in 2011-12 and 2017-18. Michigan State’s nine Big Ten Championship victories are second-most in league history, trailing only Ohio State, which has 15.

Eight of the Spartans’ nine titles have come under Slobodnik-Stoll. Her championship tally also ranks second in the conference record books; Ohio State’s Therese Hession, who retired in January, ended her career with 11.

Michigan State will tee off in a group with Michigan and Purdue in Saturday’s second round.

Contact Ryan Black at rblack@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @RyanABlack.

Oklahoma maintains its grip on No. 1 in the Bushnell/Golfweek Division I Coaches Poll

The Oklahoma Sooners are fresh off a program-tying fifth win of the season.

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The Oklahoma men’s golf rallied on the final day to win the 2022 Thunderbird Collegiate to tie the program mark with its fifth win of the season.

The Sooners this week received 19 of the 22 first-place votes to maintain its perch atop the April 22 Bushnell/Golfweek Div. I Coaches Poll.

The rest of the top five is the same as last time out, with Oklahoma State, Vanderbilt, Arizona State and Pepperdine falling in behind Oklahoma. OSU and Vandy each received one first-place vote this time, as did No. 6 Texas, up from No. 12 after the Longhorns won the 2022 Western Intercollegiate.

LSU (No. 23) and South Carolina (No. 24) are newcomers to the April 22 poll.

Rank University (First Place Votes) Points Previous
1 Oklahoma (19) 547 1
2 Oklahoma State (1) 520 2
3 Vanderbilt (1) 488 3
4 Arizona State 471 4
5 Pepperdine 461 5
6 Texas (1) 436 12
7 Texas Tech 413 8
8 North Carolina 407 7
9 Washington 394 6
T-10 Georgia 327 9
T-10 Arkansas 327 10
12 Georgia Tech 315 11
13 Notre Dame 272 13
14 Auburn 251 15
15 Florida 232 16
16 Wake Forest 223 19
17 Texas A&M 178 22
18 Stanford 165 14
19 Tennessee 162 18
20 Illinois 150 23
T-21 Mississippi 82 24
T-21 Florida State 82 20
23 LSU 66 NR
24 South Carolina 65 NR
25 Clemson 63 21
Others receiving votes: Purdue (15); Kansas (14); New Mexico (7); Charlotte (5); East Tennessee State (4); Ohio State (2); South Florida (2); Arizona (1); Michigan State (1); NC State (1); North Florida (1).

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Flying high: Keiser wins seventh tournament of season, remains No. 1 in Bushnell/Golfweek NAIA Coaches Poll

The Keiser Seahawks men’s golf team has won seven tournaments this season.

The Keiser Seahawks men’s golf team won its seventh tournament of the season at the 2022 Roadrunner Classic at The Farm Golf Club in Rocky Face, Georgia.

That was more than enough to earn all 15 first-place votes and the No. 1 spot in the latest Bushnell/Golfweek NAIA Coaches Poll.

South Carolina Beaufort is at No. 2 with College of Coastal Georgia No. 3. Ottawa (AZ) and Oklahoma City round out the top five.

Rank University (First Place Votes) Points Previous
1 Keiser (15) 375 2
2 South Carolina Beaufort 351 3
3 College of Coastal Georgia 344 4
4 Ottawa (AZ) 334 5
5 Oklahoma City 308 7
6 British Columbia 293 6
7 Dalton State 271 11
8 Point 251 8
9 Lewis Clark State 231 12
10 Texas Wesleyan 224 19
11 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical (AZ) 222 9
12 Wayland Baptist 205 10
13 Bellevue 199 13
14 Victoria 177 17
15 Southwestern Christian 156 15
16 Reinhardt 137 16
17 Taylor 136 20
18 Missouri Valley College 102 22
T-19 Lindsey Wilson 98 21
T-19 Southeastern (FL) 98 NR
21 Tennessee Wesleyan 87 18
22 SCAD Savannah 74 14
23 William Woods 54 24
24 The Master’s University 52 23
25 Truett-McConnell 30 25
Others receiving votes: Northwestern Ohio (10); Midway (8); Roosevelt (6); Lawrence Tech (5); William Carey (4); St. Ambrose (4); Mount Mercy (3); Midland University (2); Grand View (1); Milligan (1); Northwestern College (IA) (1).

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Still rolling: Barry wins again, stays in top spot in Bushnell/Golfweek Division II Coaches Poll

The Buccaneers have won six of their last seven regular-season tournaments.

There’s no change at the top in the latest Bushnell/Golfweek Division II Coaches Poll for men’s golf.

Barry is still the top team after winning the 2022 Sunshine State Conference Men’s Golf Championship. The Buccaneers, who received 15 first-place votes, has won six of their last seven regular-season tournaments.

Arkansas Tech, after getting two first-place votes, is No. 2. Lee, with one first-place vote, is No. 3. Carson-Newman and Lincoln Memorial check in at Nos. 4 and 5. Queens University of Charlotte is the lone newcomer at No. 25.

Rank University (First Place Votes) Points Previous
1 Barry (15) 446 1
2 Arkansas Tech (2) 422 4
3 Lee (1) 415 5
4 Carson-Newman 395 2
5 Lincoln Memorial 371 3
6 Oklahoma Christian 313 8
7 South Carolina-Aiken 312 6
8 North Georgia 308 7
9 West Florida 258 12
10 Limestone 256 14
11 Nova Southeastern 252 11
12 Rogers State 240 13
13 Georgia Southwestern State 235 9
14 Florida Southern 202 15
15 Lander 198 10
16 Central Missouri 148 16
17 Midwestern State 138 17
18 Columbus State 130 18
19 Barton College 97 21
T-20 Henderson State 95 19
T-20 Saint Leo 95 20
22 Lynn 65 24
23 Belmont Abbey 60 23
24 West Georgia 45 22
25 Queens University of Charlotte 41 NR
Others receiving votes: Grand Valley State (27); Western Washington (25); Colorado State Pueblo (21); Cameron (20); Flagler (18); Delta State (13); Northeastern State (12); Findlay (11); Simon Fraser (10); Texas A&M Commerce (10); Erskine (7); Sonoma State (7); Florida Tech (6); Central Oklahoma (6); Chico State (5); Christian Brothers (4); Rollins (4); Harding (4); Southern Arkansas (4); St. Marys (TX) (4); Newberry College (3); Clayton State (3); King (3); Cal State Monterey Bay (2); Cal State-San Marcos (2); Livingstone College (2); Virginia State (1); McKendree (1); Davis & Elkins (1).

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Methodist is the No. 1 team in the Bushnell/Golfweek Division III Coaches Poll

The Methodist men’s golf team closed its regular season with three straight tournaments wins.

The Methodist men’s golf team closed its regular season with three straight tournaments wins, including the 2022 USA South Men’s Golf Championship.

That’s more than enough to keep the Monarchs, who received 16 of 17 first-place votes, in the top spot in the latest Bushnell/Golfweek Division III Coaches Poll.

Emory is No. 2 after receiving one first-place vote. Huntingdon, Wittenberg and Babson take up Nos. 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Kenyon College is new to the poll this time around and checks in at No. 20.

Rank University (First Place Votes) Points Previous
1 Methodist (16) 424 1
2 Emory (1) 408 2
3 Huntingdon 385 3
T-4 Wittenberg 351 5
T-4 Babson 351 4
6 Carnegie Mellon 350 6
7 Christopher Newport 314 8
8 Illinois Wesleyan 314 7
9 Sewanee: The University of the South 296 10
10 Mary Hardin-Baylor 245 9
11 Piedmont 239 11
12 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 232 12
13 Greensboro 206 15
14 Washington & Lee 195 16
15 Oglethorpe 178 13
16 Willamette 170 17
17 Texas-Dallas 140 14
18 Hampden-Sydney 124 21
19 Gustavus Adolphus 120 20
20 Kenyon College 107 NR
21 Denison 91 19
T-22 Rochester 74 24
T-22 Berry 74 23
24 Aurora 36 22
25 York College (PA) 26 18
Others receiving votes: Concordia (TX) (16); Dallas (14); Texas Lutheran (11); Guilford (9); Gettysburg (8); Lynchburg (6); New York University (6); Drew (2); Rhodes College (1); Saint John’s (MN) (1); Southwestern (TX) (1).

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Midland, South Mountain are the top teams in Bushnell/Golfweek Coaches Polls for NJCAA Divisions I, II

Midland, South Mountain are the top teams in Bushnell/Golfweek Coaches Polls for NJCAA Divisions I, II.

The Midland College men’s golf team is coming off a victory in the Southwest Junior College Championship at Squaw Creek Golf Course in Willow Park, Texas.

The South Mountain Community College men’s golf team has now won six tournaments during its 2022 spring campaign at the Paradise Valley Classic at Hillcrest Golf Course in Sun City West, Arizona.

As a result, those two teams each main their grips on the top spots in their respective NJCAA men’s golf polls.

Midland men's golf
The Midland men’s golf team.

NJCAA Div. I

After receiving three of the possible six first-place votes, Midland remains ahead of Central Alabama for the No. 1 ranking in the April 22 Bushnell/Golfweek NJCAA Div. I Coaches Poll.

Central Alabama, after winning the NJCAA Region 22 Championship, is only two total points behind the Chaparrals.

Hutchinson moved past Odessa to No. 3 and is followed by the Wranglers and Eastern Florida State.

Rank University (First Place Votes) Points Previous
1 Midland (3) 56 1
2 Central Alabama (2) 54 2
3 Hutchinson (1) 49 4
4 Odessa 36 3
5 Eastern Florida State 30 6
6 Indian Hills 26 5
7 McLennan 23 7
8 New Mexico 21 8
9 Iowa Western 13 NR
10 Western Texas 11 10
Others receiving votes: Dodge City (9); Jefferson State (2).

NJCAA Div. II

After receiving six first-place votes, South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Arizona, is No. 1 for the third-straight Bushnell/Golfweek NJCAA Div. II Coaches Poll.

The Cougars are followed by Mississippi Gulf Coast (four first-place votes), Parkland, Kirkwood, and Tyler in the top five.

South Mountain men's golf
South Mountain men’s golf.
Rank University (First Place Votes) Points Previous
1 South Mountain (6) 91 1
2 Mississippi Gulf Coast (4) 90 2
3 Parkland 77 3
4 Kirkwood 74 4
5 Tyler 50 6
6 Meridian 47 5
7 Iowa Central 43 7
8 Cleveland State 16 NR
9 Glendale 15 NR
T-10 Walters State 11 NR
T-10 Hawkeye 11 NR
Others receiving votes: Southeast (10); Des Moines (9); Abraham Baldwin (5); Grand Rapids (1).

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One historic team victory, one individual crown for Oregon Ducks at Pac-12 women’s golf tournament

The Ducks won their first Pac-12 women’s golf championship with sophomore Cynthia Lu winning the individual title.

EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon made history Wednesday, winning its first Pac-12 women’s golf championship.

It didn’t end there for the Ducks, as sophomore Cynthia Lu held off all comers, including a late challenge from the nation’s No. 1 player, to win the individual title.

Playing through a persistent rain that softened the fairways and soaked the greens on the Eugene Country Club’s par-72, 6,267-yard course, No. 2 Oregon was 2-over for the day to bring its three-round score 6-over 295-285-290 — 870.

The Ducks were seven shots better than No. 1 Stanford and Oregon State, which tied for second at 13-over 877.

“Wow, just so proud of this group,” Oregon coach Derek Radley said. “What an incredible performance. We talked about it all year, to be able to do this on our home course is extremely special.”

Leading the way for Oregon was Lu, who stormed into the lead during Tuesday’s second round when she shot 6-under, just missing the conference tournament single-round record by one stroke.

Wednesday, she shot even par (35-37 — 72) to bring her three-round total to 6-under 210.

“Cynthia’s a superstar,” Radley said. “We’ve known it from the first day she’s stepped foot on this campus and she just continues to shine and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for her for the future.”

Oregon’s only other Pac-12 champion was Caroline Inglis in 2015, though Inglis didn’t have the luxury of a large home crowd watching her finish her round on the 18th green — a crowd that included Lu’s father from Taiwan and several teammates who ran out and doused her with water soon after her final putt went into the hole.

“It was so nice we have people from Eugene, from Oregon, cheering for our team,” Lu said. “I’ve been waiting for this moment and I was really happy. I feel like I’m the luckiest person in the world.”

Lu’s sensational second round gave her a four-stroke lead at 6-under heading into Wednesday’s finale, which she opened with birdies on the first and third hole, but also a bogey on the second hole.

“I can’t lie, I was pretty nervous this morning,” Lu said. “I know I’m leading, and our team is leading. But honestly, I’m worried about team score more than mine. It kind of distracted me from my game.”

Stanford’s Rose Zhang, who is No. 1 in GolfStat’s player ranking, was the runner-up at 2-under 214. Zhang, who was tied for the lead after Monday’s opening round and five shots back in fifth place after the second round, shot 1-under 71 on Wednesday, including an eagle on the par-5 16th — her 11th hole of the day after her shotgun start began on the sixth tee — that cut Lu’s lead to two strokes.

But Lu, who started her round on the first tee, got a stroke back with a birdie on the par-4 16th to go back up by three shots and Zhang never got any closer.

No other players finished under par for the tournament, as Arizona’s Carolina Melgrati and UCLA’s Alessia Nobilio tied for third at 1-over 217.

Oregon senior Heather Lin, who was also instrumental in the Ducks’ rise in the standings from fifth place on Monday to the top of the podium by Wednesday, finished in a tie for seventh at 3-over 219.

Lin shot even par Wednesday in what was her best round of the tournament.

“Heather Lin is the heart and sole of this team,” Radley said.

Briana Chacon also provided a steady hand on Wednesday as she shot even par to finish tied for 13th at 5-over 221.

Sofie Kibsgaard Nielsen, who was at 10-over after the first 25 holes, had an impressive rally as she played the next 27 at 1-under to finish in a tie for 31st place at 9-over 225.

Ching-Tzu Chen finished in a tie for 36th at 11-over 227.

Oregon’s previous best team finish was second place in 2015. The only other time it placed in the top three was in 2010 when it was third.

“Our team proved that we are the best team in the country,” Lin said.

The Ducks will get a chance to prove with NCAA Regionals (May 9-11) and the NCAA Championships (May 20-25) coming up next.

Oregon State (296-296-285 — 877) had a strong final day, led by Kelsey Webster who finished tied for fifth at 1-over 2018.

Also for the Beavers, Ellie Slama was tied for 13th at 5-over 221; Chayse Gomez was tied for 19th at 6-over 222; and Madde Sund and Issy Taylor were tied for 22nd at 7-over 223.

Reigning two-time champion USC (292-292-300 — 884) was tied for fifth and Arizona State (294-286-309 — 889), which began Wednesday tied with Oregon for first place, had a disastrous final round as the Sun Devils were 21 over to drop to to seventh place.

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College golf: 2022 NCAA men’s conference championship dates and results

Results from men’s conference championships across the country.

Conference championship season is underway in men’s college golf, with all roads leading to the NCAA Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, next month.

Teams score an Automatic Qualifying spot in NCAA Regionals by winning their conference title, which is a big deal for any team that might find itself on the bubble for an at-large postseason selection.

Conference championships are listed below along with date and venue, and we’ll continue to update the list with winners and storylines. To keep up with the final stretch of the college golf season, also keep an eye on our Road to Grayhawk blog.

After Augusta National heartache, Latanna Stone and Ingrid Lindblad lead LSU to first SEC title in 30 years

The Tigers are off to NCAA Regionals on a good run of form.

Latanna Stone still can’t get over the response. Just recently the LSU junior received two letters in the mail from admirers who appreciated how she handled a tough loss at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Even that night after the round, a surprise direct message from Maria Fassi on social media had her in shock.

Fassi, of course, is one of the few people in the world who could relate, having finished runner-up at the inaugural event to Jennifer Kupcho.

“It was really almost calming to hear,” said Stone. Fassi said she wanted to crawl through the TV to give Stone a hug.

As Stone says, it was “just two holes.” But those two holes – a double-bogey on the 17th and a bogey on the 18th at Augusta National – lost Stone what many consider to be the most coveted prize in amateur golf.

MORE: 16-year-old Anna Davis wins Augusta National Women’s Amateur

Even so, Stone said she was more nervous competing in the SEC Championship last weekend than she was the back nine at Augusta National.

“I don’t know, it just felt way more important,” said Stone. “I could let everyone down if I don’t win this match.”

The power of a team.

Stone birdied her last three holes to seal LSU’s first SEC title in 30 years at Greystone Country Club’s Legacy Club, where the Tigers beat Florida, 4-1.

LSU after winning the 2022 SEC Championship. (Photo by: Andrew Wevers)

Ingrid Lindblad, a junior from Sweden who finished second at the ANWA for a second straight year earlier this month, trounced Annabell Fuller, 6 and 5, in the championship match.

Lindblad keeps looking back at pictures and videos from SECs with a “wow, we did that” reaction. She feels the same way when she looks back at the birdie she made on the 14th at Augusta on Saturday followed by eagle on the 15th.

This year’s runner-up finish at the ANWA wasn’t as tough to swallow, she said, given that she closed with a 4-under 68 to climb up the leaderboard.

LSU’s Ingrid Lindblad during the 2022 SEC Championship. (Photo: Andrew Wevers)

Anna Davis was the surprise winner at Augusta, a 16-year-old high school sophomore who recently earned a sponsor invite into next week’s new LPGA event at Palos Verdes. While Davis prepares for her LPGA debut, Lindblad and Stone are busy preparing for NCAA regional action.

“I think we’ve just got to take one step at a time,” said Lindblad, “not get too far ahead of ourselves.”

Stone hopes the team has a crawfish boil sometime soon to celebrate SECs.

Is she over the heartbreak at Augusta?

“I’m still like shoot,” said Stone. “But at the same time, you kind of have to move on, and what’s done is done.”

There are more titles to be won.

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