May 9, 2009
TEMPE, Ariz. - Texas A&M finished 11th on Saturday at the NCAA Women's Golf West Regional, falling short of a second straight berth in the national finals.
The top eight teams and two individuals advanced to the finals May 19-22 in Owings Mills, Md. With a 288-297-300=885 total, the Aggies missed the final qualifying spot by six strokes.
Playing at home on the ASU Karsten Golf Course, top-ranked Arizona State (842) cruised to a 19-shot victory. Other teams advancing are No. 3 Southern California (861), No. 8 LSU (868), TCU (873), UC Irvine (873), Texas (873), Arizona (876) and No. 13 Pepperdine (879).
Other teams not advancing were Arkansas, No. 21 California, Oregon, San Francisco, San Jose State, Baylor, UNLV, Long Beach State, Northern Arizona, Colorado, Oral Roberts and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Arizona State's Carlota Ciganda captured individual honors with a 10-under total of 67-68-71=206.
A&M junior Ashley Freeman tied for 13th at 72-70-74=216, missing an individual berth at nationals by a single stroke. Sophomore Lauren Johnson (71-80-77=228) tied for 66th and sophomore Alexa Porter (79-77-80=236) tied for 91st.
Zwartynski was four-under through six holes with birdies on the first and sixth and an eagle on the par-5 fifth. She played the final 12 holes in two over.
Freeman also started strong and was two-under through eight holes after birdies on the third and fifth. She played the last 13 holes in four-over, including bogeys on two of the last three holes.
"We just didn't capitalize on the opportunities we had," A&M Coach Trelle McCombs said. "We made too many big numbers and that cost us in the end."