Michigan Punches Ticket to Second Straight NCAA Finals Behind Lau, Borja

Michigan Punches Ticket to Second Straight NCAA Finals Behind Lau, Borja

A final-round 287 helped No. 18 Michigan to an 880 total and tie for third place at the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional, advancing the Wolverines to the NCAA Finals.
The Wolverines advance to their second straight NCAA Finals and fifth in program history.
» Three Wolverines finished among the top 25, led by Ashley Lau’s tie for fifth, while Hailey Borja tied for ninth and Mikaela Schulz tied for 23rd (223).

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich.

Race: UM Golf Course (Par 71, 6,265 yards)

Tournament: NCAA Ann Arbor Regional

UM Team Standing: Tie-3rd Place of 12 Teams (293-300-287/880)

Top UM Individual: Ashley Lautie-5th (73-73-69/215, +2)

Next UM Event: Fri-Wed., May 20-25 — at NCAA Finals (Scottsdale, Ariz.)

• Results (PDF) | Photo Gallery

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Led by the duo of senior Ashley Lau and junior Hailey Borja, the 18th-ranked University of Michigan women’s golf team posted a final-round 287 (+3) to tie for third place at the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional on Wednesday (May 11) at UM Golf Course. With their three-day total of 880 (293-300-287), the Wolverines advance to make their second consecutive NCAA Finals appearance.

The Wolverines are joined in Scottsdale, Ariz., by regional champion No. 5 San Jose State (862), No. 8 Virginia (865) and No. 20 Arkansas (880), making their way to the Grayhawk Golf Club. Individually, Virginia Tech’s Emily Mahar (2nd; 72-71-69/212, -1) and Old Dominion’s Jana Melichova (T3rd; 69-74-70/213, E) are headed to Arizona as individuals.

With the top four teams advancing to the NCAA Finals, the Wolverines began the final round with a five shot cushion for one of the four coveted Finals spots. Recording five front-nine birdies, UM began steady, making the turn even and holding its advantage over a rallying Virginia Tech, which started its day three-under.

As the Hokies continued to press, they drew themselves within two shots of the Wolverines before three straight birdies from junior Mikaela Schulz helped UM regain its advantage. As the pressure began to mount, birdies from Borja on Nos. 15 and 17, as well as another birdie on 17 from Lau, continued to help relieve it and counter any push from Virginia Tech.

With the Hokies in the clubhouse after a 279 (-5), a highlight-reel up-and-down par by Borja sealed UM’s top-four finish giving the Wolverines a three-shot cushion as cards continued to come in. In the end, it was UM’s slow and steady pace on the back-nine that yielded 24 pars, six birdies and six bogeys to close even and put a 287 on the board for an 880 regional total.

Individually, the Wolverines placed three among to the top 25 as Big Ten Golf of the Year Lau posted her sixth top-five finish of the season, tying for fifth at 215 (73-73-69). Right behind was Borja with her fifth top-10 after she tied for ninth at 216 (73-72-71). Schulz tied for 23rd at 223 (74-76-73).

In the national finals at the Grayhawk Golf Club, the 24 advancing regional teams will play 54-holes before the field will be cut to the top 15 teams and top nine individuals (from non-qualifying teams) for the final round. From there, the 72-hole individual national champion will be crowned — as well as the top eight teams advancing to match play to compete for a national title.

The Wolverines will make their fifth overall trip to the NCAA Finals in program history (2002, ’16, ’17, ’21, ’22). Four of UM’s five trips have come under ninth-year head coach Jan Dowling.

Final Team Standings

 1. San Jose State   294-284-284 = 862 (+10)
 2. Virginia         294-281-290 = 865
 3. MICHIGAN         293-300-287 = 880
    Arkansas         291-291-298 = 880
 5. Virginia Tech    302-302-279 = 883
 6. Pepperdine       300-304-289 = 893
 7. North Carolina   299-306-290 = 895
 8. Ohio State       300-304-298 = 902
 9. Washington       293-305-305 = 903
10. Xavier           299-310-296 = 905
11. UCF              300-304-305 = 909
12. Oakland          316-312-314 = 942

Top Individuals

 1. Natasha Andrea Oon, San Jose State   70-69-68 = 207 (-6)
 2. Emily Mahar, Virginia Tech           72-71-69 = 212
 3. Lucia Lopez-Ortega, San Jose State   72-71-70 = 213
    Jana Melichova, Old Dominion         69-74-70 = 213*
 5. ASHLEY LAU, U-M                      73-73-69 = 215
    Amanda Sambach, Virginia             73-70-72 = 215
    Jennifer Cleary, Virginia            73-67-75 = 215
    Ela Anacona, Arkansas                69-73-73 = 215
 9. HAILEY BORJA, U-M                    73-72-71 = 216
    Emma McMyler Xavier                  73-72-71 = 216

Michigan Individuals

T23. Mikaela Schulz     74-76-73 = 223
T32. Monet Chun         73-79-74 = 226
SUB. Sophia Trombetta   83-79 (1st & 2nd)
SUB. Ashley Kim         76 (3rd)

Advancing Teams & Individuals

 1. San Jose State (294-284-284/862)
 2. Virginia (294-281-290/865)
T3. Arkansas (291-291-298/880)
T3. Michigan (293-300-287/880)

Ind. #1 - Virginia Tech's Emily Mahar (2nd; 72-71-69/212, -1)
Ind. #2 - Old Dominion's Jana Melichova (T3rd; 69-74-70/213, E)

• Results: Day 1 | Day 2