[Spiny_Norman]

Looks like Stanford vs Pepperdine in the quarters tomorrow. Stanford went toe-to-toe against Pepperdine at the Silicon Valley Showcase about 6 weeks ago. They ended up tied for 1st. There will be one difference tomorrow - Stanford will be playing with Brooke Seay rather than Angelina Ye. Should be a great match!

The winner is guaranteed to play against USC in the semis since the other match in this half of the bracket will be South Carolina vs. Southern California.

[Spiny_Norman]

Looks like Stanford vs Pepperdine in the quarters tomorrow. Stanford went toe-to-toe against Pepperdine at the Silicon Valley Showcase about 6 weeks ago. They ended up tied for 1st. There will be one difference tomorrow - Stanford will be playing with Brooke Seay rather than Angelina Ye. Should be a great match!

The winner is guaranteed to play against USC in the semis since the other match in this half of the bracket will be South Carolina vs. Southern California.

[PVTree]

There it is. Zhang wins individual title and Stanford ends in first place by 5 strokes.

[PVTree]

There it is. Zhang wins individual title and Stanford ends in first place by 5 strokes.

[Madera86]

Congrats to Rose Zhang!

[Madera86]

Congrats to Rose Zhang!

[Leftcoast]

And now it's done with Stanford placing #1 in the team competition (with a 5 stroke lead over Texas) and Zhang #1 in the individual (with a 1 stroke lead over Lopez-Ortega and Park).

[Leftcoast]

And now it's done with Stanford placing #1 in the team competition (with a 5 stroke lead over Texas) and Zhang #1 in the individual (with a 1 stroke lead over Lopez-Ortega and Park).

[TooMuchTV]

Congrats to Rose Zhang!

Back to back!!

[TooMuchTV]

Congrats to Rose Zhang!

Back to back!!

[Spiny_Norman]

Quarterfinal matchups are set:
Zhang (Stanford's #1) vs. Guzman (Pepperdine's #4)
Englemann (2) vs. Romero (2)
Ganne (3) vs. Wong (3)
Xu (4) vs. Higo (1)
Seay (5) vs. Gomez (5)

Coach Walker is sending out the big guns first, 2 of her most experienced players. The anchor is a senior who has never lost an NCAA match. This protects the 2 frosh a bit, knowing that they have strong players in front and behind them. However both frosh have played well so far. There really are no obvious weak links on this team.

Zhang vs. Guzman are off first starting at 7:10 am. Golf Channel coverage begins at 9 am.

Live stats - https://results.golfstat.com/public/lead...&tid=26037

Let's Go Card!

[Spiny_Norman]

Quarterfinal matchups are set:
Zhang (Stanford's #1) vs. Guzman (Pepperdine's #4)
Englemann (2) vs. Romero (2)
Ganne (3) vs. Wong (3)
Xu (4) vs. Higo (1)
Seay (5) vs. Gomez (5)

Coach Walker is sending out the big guns first, 2 of her most experienced players. The anchor is a senior who has never lost an NCAA match. This protects the 2 frosh a bit, knowing that they have strong players in front and behind them. However both frosh have played well so far. There really are no obvious weak links on this team.

Zhang vs. Guzman are off first starting at 7:10 am. Golf Channel coverage begins at 9 am.

Live stats - https://results.golfstat.com/public/lead...&tid=26037

Let's Go Card!

[PVTree]

So, Pep's strategy is to make it a best 2 out of 3 with Zhang and their #1 beating the other team's #4? Leaving 2, 3, and 5 to decide the match.

I didn't know you could drop your #1 all the way down. I think it's tennis where you can only move them down 1 spot from their ranking vs. their teammates.

[PVTree]

So, Pep's strategy is to make it a best 2 out of 3 with Zhang and their #1 beating the other team's #4? Leaving 2, 3, and 5 to decide the match.

I didn't know you could drop your #1 all the way down. I think it's tennis where you can only move them down 1 spot from their ranking vs. their teammates.

[winflop]

Congrats to Rose Zhang!

Back to back!!

The first back to back champion in NCAA history

Rose is now without a doubt the greatest golfer in Stanford history. 12 wins in 20 starts, a freakish 60% win rate

That other guy in the 90s “only” won 11 times in 26 starts

[winflop]

Congrats to Rose Zhang!

Back to back!!

The first back to back champion in NCAA history

Rose is now without a doubt the greatest golfer in Stanford history. 12 wins in 20 starts, a freakish 60% win rate

That other guy in the 90s “only” won 11 times in 26 starts

[Spiny_Norman]

So, Pep's strategy is to make it a best 2 out of 3 with Zhang and their #1 beating the other team's #4? Leaving 2, 3, and 5 to decide the match.

I didn't know you could drop your #1 all the way down. I think it's tennis where you can only move them down 1 spot from their ranking vs. their teammates.

Matchups are determined by coach's selection in any order. Coach A gets first pick and puts out the name of their golfer for match 1. Coach B counters with the name of the opponent from their team. Then Coach B selects their golfer for match 2. Coach A then responds with the opponent. And so on. A lot of thought can go into each selection.

As the top seed, Coach Walker would have had the option to go first or to let the Pepperdine coach pick first. I don't know which way she went.

[Spiny_Norman]

So, Pep's strategy is to make it a best 2 out of 3 with Zhang and their #1 beating the other team's #4? Leaving 2, 3, and 5 to decide the match.

I didn't know you could drop your #1 all the way down. I think it's tennis where you can only move them down 1 spot from their ranking vs. their teammates.

Matchups are determined by coach's selection in any order. Coach A gets first pick and puts out the name of their golfer for match 1. Coach B counters with the name of the opponent from their team. Then Coach B selects their golfer for match 2. Coach A then responds with the opponent. And so on. A lot of thought can go into each selection.

As the top seed, Coach Walker would have had the option to go first or to let the Pepperdine coach pick first. I don't know which way she went.

[Spiny_Norman]

Some notes and observations.

I'm so very psyched and I hope that you are too! The team worked ALL year to be in this position - one of only 8 teams remaining with a chance to win it all.

Regardless of the outcome, let's recognize and enjoy highlights from this season.

• Rose Zhang, the most accomplished collegiate golfer ever. What more can you say?
  
• The emergence of Sadie Englemann. She was overshadowed by Zhang, Heck, Seay, and Krauter on the team last year. But she is a 1st team All Pac12 performer and likely 2nd or 3rd team All American this season. Her spring tournament placings - 3rd, 4th, 2nd, 28th (P12), 2nd and 10th (NCAAs).
  
• The very surprising emergence of Kelly Xu, the less heralded freshman. Not expected to play at all this year, she got a shot at the lineup because of injuries and she forced her way past more experienced team members into the top 5. She has certainly delivered.
  
• The incredible resilience of a team missing 2 All Americans for the entire spring season. Yet they still won 4 tournaments and finished 2nd and 3rd in the others.
  

That said, the only spring tournament that Rose Zhang did not win was the Silicon Valley Showcase. She finished 5th. Ahead of her were teammates Xu and Englemann and also Lion Higo and Kaleiya Romero from Pepperdine. The Waves have a lot of confidence - https://www.golfchannel.com/news/can-pep...g-cardinal

I think Stanford will benefit greatly from having Rachel Heck at the tournament. She is not a coach so she cannot offer advice to a player. But she can follow her teammates and help with encouragement, support and a positive attitude that practically radiates warmth and light.

Fingers crossed that Brooke Seay is physically and mentally ready for match play. She does have 54 holes under her belt now after missing the entire spring collegiate season. Stanford won each match last year 3-2 with the winning point coming from the 5th match each time. The anchor role could be key again.

[Spiny_Norman]

Some notes and observations.

I'm so very psyched and I hope that you are too! The team worked ALL year to be in this position - one of only 8 teams remaining with a chance to win it all.

Regardless of the outcome, let's recognize and enjoy highlights from this season.

• Rose Zhang, the most accomplished collegiate golfer ever. What more can you say?
  
• The emergence of Sadie Englemann. She was overshadowed by Zhang, Heck, Seay, and Krauter on the team last year. But she is a 1st team All Pac12 performer and likely 2nd or 3rd team All American this season. Her spring tournament placings - 3rd, 4th, 2nd, 28th (P12), 2nd and 10th (NCAAs).
  
• The very surprising emergence of Kelly Xu, the less heralded freshman. Not expected to play at all this year, she got a shot at the lineup because of injuries and she forced her way past more experienced team members into the top 5. She has certainly delivered.
  
• The incredible resilience of a team missing 2 All Americans for the entire spring season. Yet they still won 4 tournaments and finished 2nd and 3rd in the others.
  

That said, the only spring tournament that Rose Zhang did not win was the Silicon Valley Showcase. She finished 5th. Ahead of her were teammates Xu and Englemann and also Lion Higo and Kaleiya Romero from Pepperdine. The Waves have a lot of confidence - https://www.golfchannel.com/news/can-pep...g-cardinal

I think Stanford will benefit greatly from having Rachel Heck at the tournament. She is not a coach so she cannot offer advice to a player. But she can follow her teammates and help with encouragement, support and a positive attitude that practically radiates warmth and light.

Fingers crossed that Brooke Seay is physically and mentally ready for match play. She does have 54 holes under her belt now after missing the entire spring collegiate season. Stanford won each match last year 3-2 with the winning point coming from the 5th match each time. The anchor role could be key again.

[Softball Fan]

Pepperdine was playing well yesterday.  Pressure doesn't seem to bother them.  They could be a problem.

[Softball Fan]

Pepperdine was playing well yesterday.  Pressure doesn't seem to bother them.  They could be a problem.

[winflop]

Match play is very much a crap shoot. Despite being the best team in the country last year and winning the championship, Stanford won all three matches 3-2. I probably would have put Ganne & Xu at 2&3 rather than 3&4 but that may be splitting hairs.

Seay at 5 tells me that Coach Walker has full confidence that she's back to her usual self. She's a gritty player and I think that like last year she will be the difference maker.

[winflop]

Match play is very much a crap shoot. Despite being the best team in the country last year and winning the championship, Stanford won all three matches 3-2. I probably would have put Ganne & Xu at 2&3 rather than 3&4 but that may be splitting hairs.

Seay at 5 tells me that Coach Walker has full confidence that she's back to her usual self. She's a gritty player and I think that like last year she will be the difference maker.

[winflop]

Early on 2-2-1.

Other matches:
Texas-Texas A&M 2-2-1
Wake Forest-Florida St 2-2-1
South Caroline-U$C 2-1-2

Not surprising at all. Get ready for what is hopefully two days of nail biting.

[winflop]

Early on 2-2-1.

Other matches:
Texas-Texas A&M 2-2-1
Wake Forest-Florida St 2-2-1
South Caroline-U$C 2-1-2

Not surprising at all. Get ready for what is hopefully two days of nail biting.

[StanfordMatt]

So, Pep's strategy is to make it a best 2 out of 3 with Zhang and their #1 beating the other team's #4? Leaving 2, 3, and 5 to decide the match.

I didn't know you could drop your #1 all the way down. I think it's tennis where you can only move them down 1 spot from their ranking vs. their teammates.

Matchups are determined by coach's selection in any order. Coach A gets first pick and puts out the name of their golfer for match 1. Coach B counters with the name of the opponent from their team. Then Coach B selects their golfer for match 2. Coach A then responds with the opponent. And so on. A lot of thought can go into each selection.

As the top seed, Coach Walker would have had the option to go first or to let the Pepperdine coach pick first. I don't know which way she went.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I vaguely remember a comment from years past that Walker chose her match play lineup strictly based on the order she wanted her players to go out in, without regard to who they were matching up against.

[StanfordMatt]

So, Pep's strategy is to make it a best 2 out of 3 with Zhang and their #1 beating the other team's #4? Leaving 2, 3, and 5 to decide the match.

I didn't know you could drop your #1 all the way down. I think it's tennis where you can only move them down 1 spot from their ranking vs. their teammates.

Matchups are determined by coach's selection in any order. Coach A gets first pick and puts out the name of their golfer for match 1. Coach B counters with the name of the opponent from their team. Then Coach B selects their golfer for match 2. Coach A then responds with the opponent. And so on. A lot of thought can go into each selection.

As the top seed, Coach Walker would have had the option to go first or to let the Pepperdine coach pick first. I don't know which way she went.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I vaguely remember a comment from years past that Walker chose her match play lineup strictly based on the order she wanted her players to go out in, without regard to who they were matching up against.

[MiniBlueHawkCard]

It is time for my annual "show the swing matches!" complaint. Really enjoy and appreciate the coverage The Golf Channel provides, but without fail every year they spend plenty of time on matches that are well on their way to be decided while we are left to our imagination on the match(s) that will decide the outcome. Anyways, always enjoyable to see Rose stripe it down the middle! Hopefully the run continues.

[MiniBlueHawkCard]

It is time for my annual "show the swing matches!" complaint. Really enjoy and appreciate the coverage The Golf Channel provides, but without fail every year they spend plenty of time on matches that are well on their way to be decided while we are left to our imagination on the match(s) that will decide the outcome. Anyways, always enjoyable to see Rose stripe it down the middle! Hopefully the run continues.

[Spiny_Norman]

Zhang 5 up through 10 - Rose doing Rose things
Englemann 1 up through 9 - has not made a birdie yet, but her opponent has made 4 bogeys
Ganne 2 down through 8 - not playing bad, her opponent has already made 3 birdies
Xu 2 up through 8 - playing well, has already made 3 birdies
Seay 2 down through 7 - no birdies yet

[Spiny_Norman]

Zhang 5 up through 10 - Rose doing Rose things
Englemann 1 up through 9 - has not made a birdie yet, but her opponent has made 4 bogeys
Ganne 2 down through 8 - not playing bad, her opponent has already made 3 birdies
Xu 2 up through 8 - playing well, has already made 3 birdies
Seay 2 down through 7 - no birdies yet

[BigEasyCard]

Zhang 5 up through 10 - Rose doing Rose things
Englemann 1 up through 9 - has not made a birdie yet, but her opponent has made 4 bogeys
Ganne 2 down through 8 - not playing bad, her opponent has already made 3 birdies
Xu 2 up through 8 - playing well, has already made 3 birdies
Seay 2 down through 7 - no birdies yet

Thanks for the great summary.

Geaux Cardinal!

[BigEasyCard]

Zhang 5 up through 10 - Rose doing Rose things
Englemann 1 up through 9 - has not made a birdie yet, but her opponent has made 4 bogeys
Ganne 2 down through 8 - not playing bad, her opponent has already made 3 birdies
Xu 2 up through 8 - playing well, has already made 3 birdies
Seay 2 down through 7 - no birdies yet

Thanks for the great summary.

Geaux Cardinal!

[Lorcan]

It's looking promising as Seay has battled back to a draw, but a long way to go to hold on to this slight lead.

[Lorcan]

It's looking promising as Seay has battled back to a draw, but a long way to go to hold on to this slight lead.

[Spiny_Norman]

Zhang closes out her match 6 and 5.

Ganne is 3 down through 12. She is going to need a run to get back into her match.

Stanford is probably going to need to win 2 of the remaining 3 matches.

Englemann is 1 up through 12. This has been a bit of a sloppy match by both players. You just have to keep battling. 
Xu is 1 up through 11 after winning 10 but giving it back with a bogey on the par 5 11th
Seay is all square through 10. She has won 2 of the last 3 holes as her opponent has wobbled a bit.

[Spiny_Norman]

Zhang closes out her match 6 and 5.

Ganne is 3 down through 12. She is going to need a run to get back into her match.

Stanford is probably going to need to win 2 of the remaining 3 matches.

Englemann is 1 up through 12. This has been a bit of a sloppy match by both players. You just have to keep battling. 
Xu is 1 up through 11 after winning 10 but giving it back with a bogey on the par 5 11th
Seay is all square through 10. She has won 2 of the last 3 holes as her opponent has wobbled a bit.

[cardcrimson]

It's looking promising as Seay has battled back to a draw, but a long way to go to hold on to this slight lead.

And Seay drops the next hole, with Xu and Englemann clinging to one hole leads. Very tight. . . .

Edit, Englemann now tied. . .

Edit, Xu now tied, as well.

[cardcrimson]

It's looking promising as Seay has battled back to a draw, but a long way to go to hold on to this slight lead.

And Seay drops the next hole, with Xu and Englemann clinging to one hole leads. Very tight. . . .

Edit, Englemann now tied. . .

Edit, Xu now tied, as well.