Winter Garden, Fla. - The University of Findlay women's golf team, ranked third in the country according to the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA), concluded the stroke play portion of the 2024 NCAA Division II National Championship, which is being held at Orange County National – Panther Lake in Winter Garden, Florida, near Orlando. Starting the day in third, the Oilers ended the day in fifth in the team standings after a round of 289 (+1). Their 54-hole score of 867 (+3) is the fourth-best three-round score in program history and the lowest by UF at the national championship tournament.
Most importantly, Findlay has secured its' place in the top eight, earning a trip to the medal match play portion of the event for the fifth time. Findlay and Dallas Baptist, which finished third in stroke play, are the only two programs in the country to have earned a trip to medal match play each year since the format was initiated in 2019.
With the pursuit of the team title still alive, the Oilers had plenty else to celebrate as senior Gabby Woods came through in the clutch, winning the individual national title by finishing atop the leaderboard with a three-round score of 207 (-9), a 54-hole program record.
Despite making bogey on the first hole, Woods, who finished runner-up in last year's national championship tournament, had herself in contention late on Thursday afternoon. Trailing by just one stroke with five holes to play, the Sebina, Ohio native made birdie on the par-five 14th hole to move into a tie for first. She made par on her next three holes, needing a birdie on the short par-five 18th to secure the individual title.
"Before I teed off on 18, I asked Coach (Hunter) Foltz where I was at", said Woods following the round. "I was pretty nervous about the tee shot but, I just tried to collect myself."
She did just that, hitting a big drive up the left side of the fairway that left her less than 200 yards into the green. Woods reached the par-five in two, leaving herself a 47-foot putt, knowing a two-putt would earn her a birdie and a national championship.
Woods continued, "The long putt that I had, the jitters were getting to me, but my biggest focus was speed and just making sure I got the ball to the hole. I left a little more than I wanted to for my birdie putt."
Four feet for the title.
"I told myself that I had putted four footers day in and day out. It was nothing new."
With a gallery of a hundred or so spectators surrounding the 18th green, and the weight of a trophy on her shoulders and on her mind, Woods made a confident stroke and found the middle of the cup. That stroke was the 69th of the day, a round of three-under-par.
"Honestly, my mind just went blank. I was so happy that it went in. I can't yet comprehend that in this tournament, I beat all the best players in the nation. But now we need to keep going because tomorrow we start over, going after the national title as a team."
Tying for 27th on the individual leaderboard were junior sisters Mary Kelly and Erin Mulcahy. Both shot 73 (+1) on Thursday to end the tournament at 219 (+3). Mary Kelly, who was named the NCAA DII National Player of the Year following the conclusion of today's round, made bogey on each of her first three holes, but rallied with three consecutive birdies on holes six, seven, and eight to get back to even-par. Similarly, Erin followed up bogeys on holes five and six with a birdie on seven. She also birdied the 14th and 15th holes to help put together her third-consecutive round of 73.
Freshman Asleigh Duflo and sophomore Hayley Dye each fired rounds of 74 (+2) to round out the Oilers lineup. It was the first time all week that each of the team's five players all recorded rounds under 75, setting the team up nicely for medal match play.
The Oilers will take on Lynn University, which finished fourth in the stroke play portion of the event, tomorrow morning, Friday, May 24 at 8:00 am in the first round of medal match play.
