Seven is universally considered a lucky number. It has a mystically magical connotation with seven days in a week, seven colors in the rainbow, seven wonders of the world, seven continents and on and on. Then there is this: seven straight NCAA appearances for the Chattanooga Mocs women’s golf team.
Take those good spirits, vibes, karma, etc., and maybe this is the year for the second trip to the NCAA Championship for the Mocs. They are one of 24 teams along with six individual student-athletes looking to advance to the finals May 20-23 at Tulsa Country Club.
The 2008-09 Chattanooga squad finished eighth at the Central Regional on the Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio and took on the nation’s top teams at Caves Valley in Maryland. Other versions have come close since, and Head Coach Colette Murray takes an experienced squad westward. All five starters have regional experience from last season at Auburn.
First comes Timber Creek at Suncadia Resort and the NCAA West Regional. Play begins Thursday, May 8, and ends Saturday, May 10. The top eight teams and two individuals on non-advancing teams move on to the NCAA Championship.
Southern Conference Golfer of the Year Jordan Britt (Chattanooga, Tenn.) leads the Mocs into her fourth postseason event. She joins former teammates Emma de Groot (2008-11) and Maria Juliana Loza (2009-12) as the only Mocs to play in four NCAA Regionals.
Britt averages 74.18 strokes per round on the season and has tied de Groot’s season record from 2007-08 for top five finishes with six. She owns school records for eagles in a season (5) and career (7), and Britt is tied for season marks in par or better rounds (10) and rounds in the 60’s (3).
She’s not alone in a sterling 2013-14. SoCon Champion Emily McLennan (74.68) and All-SoCon performer Agathe Sauzon (75.94) are joined by Isabella Loza (Bucaramanga, Colombia) and Porsche Campbell (Vancouver, Canada) rounding out the lineup. This group has fashioned a 301.50 scoring average which is currently 0.08 shots ahead of 2010-11’s school record (301.58).
Chattanooga is paired with Tennessee and New Mexico Thursday. The first group tees off hole number one at 3:55 p.m., Eastern time. Click the live scoring link above to access tee times and scoring for the event when available.
The NCAA West regional field includes: (by seed)
USC, Arizona St., Oklahoma, Washington, Clemson, Wake Forest, Northwestern, Michigan St., Iowa St., GRU Augusta, Oregon, Texas A&M, UC Davis, Denver, San Diego St., Wisconsin, Gonzaga, Notre Dame, Tennessee, CHATTANOOGA, New Mexico, New Mexico St., Portland St., Detroit. Individuals: Alison Knowles (La.-Monroe), Regan de Guzman (San Jose St.), Clariss Guce (Cal St. Northridge), Fabiola Arriaga (UTSA), Madchen Ly (Fresno St.), Alexandra White (BYU)