Northwestern University Athletics
Wednesday, May 8
Cle Elum, Wash.
All Day
Northwestern
vs
NCAA Regional (Third Round)
Riley's Course Record 65 Helps ’Cats Punch Ticket to Fayetteville
5/8/2019 6:43:00 PM | Women's Golf
CLE ELUM, Wash. — The 'Cats came up clutch in the final round of the NCAA West Regional Wednesday.
Junior Brooke Riley set a Tumble Creek Golf Club women's course record with a 7-under, 65, and Northwestern shot 10-under to comfortably secure a spot in the 2019 NCAA Championships.
CLE ELUM REGIONAL TEAM LEADERBOARD
CLE ELUM REGIONAL INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD
Riley has made it a habit of playing her best golf in the brightest moments. For the second-consecutive year, Riley carded a critical team-leading performance to secure another championship berth. She shot a 66 in the final round of the 2018 NCAA Madison Regional. Her 65 Wednesday marked the second-best round in program history and led her to a tie for fifth with a 54-hole score of 6-under.
The junior lefty had great support from her teammates. First year Kelly Sim, senior Janet Mao and senior Stephanie Lau each shot par or better to help the Wildcats post their best round ever in NCAA Regional play and fifth-best round in program history overall with a 278. The 'Cats were able to exhale late in the round as they finished 11 shots above the cut line in third place with a three-day score of even par.
"I can hardly put into words how incredibly proud I am of this team," head coach Emily Fletcher said. "Right from the get go this morning, they were ready. Brooke stepped onto the course this morning with a sense of purpose and a very clear vision about how she wanted to play. Every play contributed over the course of the three rounds and I'm so proud of we were able to put together a total team performance."
The Wildcats entered Wednesday's final round at 10-over after struggling to battle the windy conditions of the second round, but were unfazed by the pressure of seeking their seventh-consecutive NCAA Championship appearance.
After shooting 8-over on the front nine in the second round, the 'Cats put any thoughts of a bad start to bed early behind the play of Riley. The California native set the tone with an eagle from just inside 50 yards on the Par-4 third hole and followed it up with back-to-back birdies to move to 4-under early. She made the turn at 4-under thanks to a birdie at No. 9 — the second hardest hole on the course for the week.
"The team does a really good job of pumping each other up," Riley said. "We had a lot of fun last night and this morning. There was a vibe we were going to come out here and get it done. Today's performance shows that we can do anything. The five we have are just so solid and can bounce back to fight through tough days. It's a great feeling."
Chicago's Big Ten Team made the turn at 4-under behind the play of Riley, but a storm was brewing and the 'Cats put an exclamation point on their record-breaking round on the back nine.
Sim, who finished her first NCAA Regional tied for 11th at 3-under, made three birdies on the back nine while playing in the final group to shoot a 2-under, 70. Sim was 1-over through 14 holes Wednesday, before making birdies at No. 15, No. 16 and and No. 18.
The senior duo of Mao and Lau put on a display of resiliency in the final round after disappointing second rounds. Mao countered three bogeys by taking advantage of the Par 5s with birdies on No. 4 and No. 14, but it was her final shot of the tournament that brought the crowd to its feet and cheers through the course. After hitting her second shot on the Par 5, 485-yard, pin high and just off the green, Mao hit a perfect lob shot to the top of the mound and watched it race down the hill and into the cup for an eagle.
Lau was even par on the front nine and moved to 1-under with a birdie on No. 10, but stumbled with three-straight bogeys on 11, 12 and 13. Undeterred by the string of bogeys, Lau responded with a birdie on the Par 5 14th and closed her round with yet another birdie on the Par 5 18th to shoot an even par, 72. The Wildcats finished the round emphatically by shooting 5-under on the final hole alone.
Northwestern will head to the 2019 NCAA Championships at Blessings Golf Course in Fayetteville, Arkansas, May 16-22.
Junior Brooke Riley set a Tumble Creek Golf Club women's course record with a 7-under, 65, and Northwestern shot 10-under to comfortably secure a spot in the 2019 NCAA Championships.
CLE ELUM REGIONAL TEAM LEADERBOARD
CLE ELUM REGIONAL INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD
Riley has made it a habit of playing her best golf in the brightest moments. For the second-consecutive year, Riley carded a critical team-leading performance to secure another championship berth. She shot a 66 in the final round of the 2018 NCAA Madison Regional. Her 65 Wednesday marked the second-best round in program history and led her to a tie for fifth with a 54-hole score of 6-under.
The junior lefty had great support from her teammates. First year Kelly Sim, senior Janet Mao and senior Stephanie Lau each shot par or better to help the Wildcats post their best round ever in NCAA Regional play and fifth-best round in program history overall with a 278. The 'Cats were able to exhale late in the round as they finished 11 shots above the cut line in third place with a three-day score of even par.
"I can hardly put into words how incredibly proud I am of this team," head coach Emily Fletcher said. "Right from the get go this morning, they were ready. Brooke stepped onto the course this morning with a sense of purpose and a very clear vision about how she wanted to play. Every play contributed over the course of the three rounds and I'm so proud of we were able to put together a total team performance."
The Wildcats entered Wednesday's final round at 10-over after struggling to battle the windy conditions of the second round, but were unfazed by the pressure of seeking their seventh-consecutive NCAA Championship appearance.
After shooting 8-over on the front nine in the second round, the 'Cats put any thoughts of a bad start to bed early behind the play of Riley. The California native set the tone with an eagle from just inside 50 yards on the Par-4 third hole and followed it up with back-to-back birdies to move to 4-under early. She made the turn at 4-under thanks to a birdie at No. 9 — the second hardest hole on the course for the week.
"The team does a really good job of pumping each other up," Riley said. "We had a lot of fun last night and this morning. There was a vibe we were going to come out here and get it done. Today's performance shows that we can do anything. The five we have are just so solid and can bounce back to fight through tough days. It's a great feeling."
Chicago's Big Ten Team made the turn at 4-under behind the play of Riley, but a storm was brewing and the 'Cats put an exclamation point on their record-breaking round on the back nine.
Sim, who finished her first NCAA Regional tied for 11th at 3-under, made three birdies on the back nine while playing in the final group to shoot a 2-under, 70. Sim was 1-over through 14 holes Wednesday, before making birdies at No. 15, No. 16 and and No. 18.
The senior duo of Mao and Lau put on a display of resiliency in the final round after disappointing second rounds. Mao countered three bogeys by taking advantage of the Par 5s with birdies on No. 4 and No. 14, but it was her final shot of the tournament that brought the crowd to its feet and cheers through the course. After hitting her second shot on the Par 5, 485-yard, pin high and just off the green, Mao hit a perfect lob shot to the top of the mound and watched it race down the hill and into the cup for an eagle.
Lau was even par on the front nine and moved to 1-under with a birdie on No. 10, but stumbled with three-straight bogeys on 11, 12 and 13. Undeterred by the string of bogeys, Lau responded with a birdie on the Par 5 14th and closed her round with yet another birdie on the Par 5 18th to shoot an even par, 72. The Wildcats finished the round emphatically by shooting 5-under on the final hole alone.
Northwestern will head to the 2019 NCAA Championships at Blessings Golf Course in Fayetteville, Arkansas, May 16-22.
Players Mentioned
Women's Golf - Emily Fletcher Joins B1G Today (5/27/25)
Wednesday, May 28
Women's Golf - NCAA National Championship Match Cinematic Recap (5/21/25)
Thursday, May 22
Women's Golf - 'Cats Claim First National Championship in Program History (5/21/25)
Thursday, May 22
Women's Golf - 'Cats Defeat Ducks to Punch Ticket to National Championship (5/21/25)
Wednesday, May 21
