Spartan Notebook at the NCAA Regionals
5/12/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
May 12, 2007
The Spartans won't lack for experience at the NCAA Championships. Four of the five members of the starting five have competed in collegiate women's golf's premier event. Only sophomore Holly Niederkohr has not seen action in the NCAA Championships, with both junior Sara Brown and senior Mandi McConnell finishing 27th at the event in 2005 at Sunriver Resort in Oregon. Senior Heather Rose competed in the championships as a freshman and sophomore and senior Rachel Meikle competed in the 2005 championships.
"I feel like it's been a while because we haven't gone since my sophomore year," Rose said. "I'm really excited about it. I definitely think it's good to have our experience. All of us except Holly have gone to nationals. We know there's a lot of hype going into it and a lot of stuff going on. I think, since four of us have been there, it will definitely help us."
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The NCAA Championships will mark the ends of the careers of three of the greatest Spartan golfers in the school's history. Senior Mandi McConnell enters the championships with a 76.89 career stroke average, the fifth-lowest in school history. Rachel Meikle's 77.26 career scoring average is seventh in school history. Heather Rose will enter the championships two rounds shy of tying the school's career record for rounds played, as she will pass Emily Bastel's mark of 146 career rounds during the four-round tournament. Rose's 77.35 career scoring average is eighth in school history.
"I'm very proud of what the team did today," Slobodnik-Stoll said. "I can't imagine a better ending for the three seniors. Now we know where the seniors last putt will drop and I can't think of a better place than the national championships."
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The Spartans are heading to their eighth NCAA Championships in the 25 years of the event. It will be the sixth time in head coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll's 10 years that the Spartans will head to the event. The Spartans finished in a school record tie for 12th during the 2001 championships at the Mission Inn and Tennis Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. Emily Bastel posted the best individual finish at the event, tying for 13th with a four-round 300 (75-75-75-70) in 2001.
Players Mentioned
