April 26, 2009
LUBBOCK - Texas A&M junior Ashley Freeman birdied the second playoff hole on Sunday to claim the individual title at the Big 12 Women's Golf Championship at the windswept Rawls Course.
The Aggies were runners-up for the second straight year with a score of 46-over-par (304-299-319=922). A&M finished 13 strokes behind No. 4-ranked Oklahoma State (295-302-312=909), which captured its second straight league championship. Oklahoma placed third at 938, 16 strokes behind the Aggies.
Freeman is the third A&M player to win the Big 12 crown and the first since Ashley Knoll in 2006. Isabelle Rosberg won the Big 12 title in 1998.
The Aggies entered the final round six strokes behind the Cowgirls. A&M pulled within four strokes at one point, but played the last five holes in 14-over-par while Oklahoma State played that stretch in four-over.
With winds gusting up to 35 mph on Sunday, the average individual score was more than eight-over-par (81.35).
"We got a little bit tight on the back side today and made too many unforced errors," A&M Coach Trelle McCombs said. "But I'm really proud of our team for the way they fought all the way to the end. You can't ask for much more than that. Oklahoma State is the No. 4 team in the country and we stayed right with them. That's encouraging as we head into postseason play."
Kansas State finished fourth (944), followed by Kansas (945), Texas (946), Baylor (950), Colorado (952), Iowa State (952), Nebraska (953), Missouri (957) and Texas Tech (957). Freeman (72-73-80=225) bogeyed her last five holes, allowing Oklahoma's Kendall Dye (76-73-76=225), who played the same stretch in one-over, to catch her and force the playoff.
"Ashley had an awesome tournament and I'm so proud of her," McCombs said. "She was so excited coming into this tournament and worked especially hard. I was concerned for her when she saw it all dwindle down the stretch, but I think she was relieved that she still had a chance to win it. She took advantage of it and played great in the playoff."
Both players parred the the first playoff hole. Freeman reached the par-5 second in two and just missed a 25-foot eagle putt. After Dye missed a 10-foot birdie attempt, Freeman tapped in for birdie for her first collegiate victory.
"It really hasn't sunk in yet," Freeman said. "I didn't sleep well at all last night because I knew it was my tournament to win or lose. The conditions were tough but everyone had to play in it. On the last few holes of regulation, two of my bogeys were actually good bogeys. It wasn't nerves or anything, just the elements and me getting in my own way."
A&M sophomore Lauren Johnson (78-74-80=232) tied for 10th, sophomore Stephanie Smith (84-78-89=251) placed 55th.
"I thought it was fantastic that we had three players finish in the top 10," McCombs said. "That should give us a boost of confidence as we get ready for regionals." ??A&M also earned a key point in the State Farm Lone Star Showdown competition against Texas. The Aggies trail the Longhorns 8.5-6 with 4.5 points still available -- one-half point in softball and one point each in men's golf, baseball, women's track and field and men's track and field.
The fields for the three NCAA regionals will be announced on Monday. The regionals are set for May 7-9 in Tempe, Ariz., Columbus, Ohio, and Gainesville, Fla.