NCAA Championship: Eight Advance, Wise Medals
Aaron Wise Celebrates his Birdie on 17 (Register-Guard photo)
EUGENE, Ore. (May 30, 2016) -- Strokeplay has concluded at firm and fast Eugene Country Club as the matchplay bracket has been decided and the individual champion crowned.
Unsurprisingly, Texas took the number one seed led by their star Beau Hossler who finished 5th individually. The Longhorns finished the four rounds at 14 over par and will go on to face the Oklahoma Sooners.
Oklahoma started the day in 14th place and made an incredible rally, shooting a 3-under 277 to squeeze inside the top 8. Junior Max McGreevy bounced back from an 80 yesterday to post 4-under 66 while freshman Brad Dalke added a clutch 2-under 68. This is the first time Oklahoma has qualified for matchplay since its introduction in 2009.
Another big rally was made by the South Carolina Gamecocks who also fired a 3-under 277 to climb five spots into the 7th spot. Will Starke was the biggest performer, closing with four back-nine birdies en route to a 66. Scott Stevens added a 68 while Sean Kelly put up a 69. South Carolina will meet University of Illinois who shot the round of the day with a 4-under 276.
Defending champions LSU earned the third seed and will face hosts Oregon while last year's runner-up USC will meet Vanderbilit. Oregon was fueled by their star Aaron Wise who capped off his final event as a collegiate golfer with a two-shot victory.
After his opening nine, Wise was 8-under for the tournament and four clear of the field. However, double bogeys on holes 12 and 16 put him tied for the lead entering the 17th hole. With a crowd of nearly 200 supporters gathered around the 17th green, Wise stared down a 10 foot downhill birdie putt.
"I told Van (Oregon's assistant coach) 'when I knock this thing in it's going to be a roar'," Wise told Golf Channel.
He knocked in and matched the roar with an emotional fist pump himself. He carried the momentum into the 18th hole with a fantastic approach shot out of the rough, over the trees, and softly aboard the green. Two putts from there secured the title.
Quarterfinal play will be broadcasted tomorrow on Golf Channel from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. ET followed by semifinals from 6 to 10 pm ET.
ABOUT THE
NCAA Division I Championship
30 teams and 6 individuals not on a qualifying
team make up the field for the championship of
NCAA
Division I women's golf.
After 72 holes of stroke play, the individual
champion is crowned, and the low 8 teams advance
to
match play to determine the team champion.
View Complete Tournament Information