There’s a new first for the Chattanooga Mocs women’s golf team. Playing its seventh straight NCAA postseason, the Mocs make their first trip to the West Regional. They are one of 24 teams headed to Cle Elum, Wash., and Tumble Creek at Suncadia Resort.
The three-day, 54-hole event is May 9-11. The top eight teams and two individuals on non-advancing squads move on to Tulsa, Okla., for the National Championship May 21-24 at Tulsa Country Club.
Chattanooga’s path to Tulsa includes a gauntlet of the nation’s best teams. Top-ranked USC highlights the field that includes No. 6 Arizona State, No. 7 Oklahoma, No. 8 Washington, No. 12 Clemson, No. 18 Wake Forest, No. 19 Northwestern and No. 25 Michigan State. Iowa State, GRU Augusta, Oregon, Texas A&M, UC Davis, Denver, San Diego State, Wisconsin, Gonzaga, Notre Dame, Tennessee, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Portland State and Detroit round out the 24-team field.
Tumble Creek is one of three courses at Suncadia Resort. The Tom Doak design is a private-only tract, while the other two courses are open to the public. It was recently rated as the fourth-best course in Washington state by Golf Digest. Cle Elum is located 80 miles southeast of Seattle and just 45 minutes from famed Mount Rainier.
The women’s golf program was resurrected by Murray in 2007-08. It has been a part of NCAA Regional play all seven seasons. Former Southern Conference Player of the Year Emma de Groot (2008-11) competed as an individual as a freshman in 2008. The team has qualified ever since.
This year’s squad assured its bid winning the SoCon Championship. It was the fifth straight team title, while sophomore Emily McLennan (Queensland, Australia) became the fourth consecutive Moc to lay claim to medalist honors.
McLennan was joined on the All-SoCon squad by Jordan Britt (Chattanooga) and Agathe Sauzon (Valence, France). Britt earned the SoCon Player of the Year award joining de Groot (2011) as the only Mocs to capture it.
While Chattanooga is the only SoCon school in the postseason, a couple of future members reached the field of 72-plus. East Tennessee State is in the East Regional after claiming the Atlantic Sun title. Mercer’s Lacey Fears is in as an individual. ETSU and the Bears join the league in 2014-15.
WEST REGIONAL | Tumble Creek at Suncadia Resort | Cle Elum, Wash.
USC
Arizona State
Oklahoma
Washington
Clemson
Wake Forest
Northwestern
Michigan State
Iowa State
GRU Augusta
Oregon
Texas A&M
UC Davis
Denver
San Diego State
Wisconsin
Gonzaga
Notre Dame
Tennessee
CHATTANOOGA
New Mexico
New Mexico State
Portland State
Detroit
Individuals: Alison Knowles (Louisiana-Monroe), Regan de Guzman (San Jose State), Clariss Guce (Cal State Northridge), Fabiola Arriaga (UTSA), Madchen Ly (Fresno State), Alexandra White (BYU)
EAST REGIONAL | SouthWood Golf Club | Tallahassee, Fla.
Duke
South Carolina
Stanford
Vanderbilt
Pepperdine
UCF
Virginia
Auburn
N.C. State
Florida State
Kentucky
Tulane
Louisville
Baylor
East Tennessee State
Georgia
Campbell
East Carolina
Texas State
College of Charleston
Troy
Murray State
Seton Hall
Alabama State
CENTRAL REGIONAL | Karsten Creek Golf Course | Stillwater, Okla.
UCLA
Arkansas
Alabama
Arizona
LSU
Oklahoma State
Florida
North Carolina
Ohio State
Miami (Fla.)
Mississippi State
Cal
Kent State
Kansas
Texas
UNLV
Colorado
SMU
Minnesota
Harvard
Lamar
Wichita State
LIU Brooklyn
Siena
CHATTANOOGA WOMEN’S GOLF NCAA POSTSEASON HISTORY
2008: Individual, Emma De Groot, East Regional, Athens, Ga., T17th of 111, 73-76-74=223
2009: Team, Central Regional, Columbus, Ohio, 8th of 21, 303-299-320=922
2009: FINALS, Caves Valley, Md., 21st of 24, 316-307-305-320=1248
2010: Team, East Regional, Greenville, N.C., 18th of 24, 293-301-316=910
2011: Team, Central Regional, Notre Dame, Ind., 12th of 24, 303-309-305=917
2012: Team, East Regional, State College, Pa., 19th of 24, 311-306-302=919
2013: Team, East Regional, Auburn, Ala., T19th of 24, 309-298-304=911