University Southern California Trojans
No. 1 USC Georgia-Bound For NCAA Championships
May 16, 2013 | Women's Golf
May 16, 2013
USC's 2013 NCAA Women's Championships Notes 
The No. 1 USC women's golf team, the 2013 Pac-12 and NCAA West Region champion with a school-record six victories this year, will look for lucky No. 7 and the program's third team title at the 2013 NCAA Championships final at the University of Georgia G.C. in Athens, Ga., Tuesday through Friday (May 21-24).
The Trojans, whose active streak of seven consecutive NCAA top 5 finishes leads the country, won team titles in 2003 and 2008 and finished second by one stroke in 2012 and 2010.
In addition to the six team wins this year, Trojan golfers have posted five individual titles, including freshman Annie Park's victory at the 2013 Pac-12s and her tie for first at the NCAA West Regional. Junior Sophia Popov and freshman Kyung Kim have also won individual crowns this year.
The NCAA's 24-team field includes (rankings by Golfweek.com) No. 1 USC, No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 Duke, No. 4 Oklahoma, No. 5 Arkansas, No. 6 UCLA, No. 7 Purdue, No. 8 Vanderbilt, No. 9 Arizona, No. 10 Stanford, No. 11 Florida, No. 12 Washington, No. 13 Arizona State, No. 14 Oklahoma State, No. 15 Tulane, No. 16 Texas, No. 20 Northwestern, No. 23 UC Davis, No. 25 Michigan State, No. 30 Tennessee, No. 33 South Carolina, No. 37 Wake Forest, No. 38 Oregon, No. 56 Wisconsin
Click here for the NCAA Championships page.
Click here for live results at Golfstat.com.
The NCAA will provide streaming coverage at of the final two rounds at NCAA.com beginning at 12 p.m. ET at holes 17 and 18 and continuing through the final putt both days. Additional coverage will be featured at hole 9 when warranted.
NCAA Championship action begins at 7:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday. USC will tee off with fellow high seeds Duke and Alabama between 12:03 and 12:47 p.m. The Trojans, Blue Devils and Crimson Tide will take the morning shift on Wednesday and tee off between 7:30 and 8:14 a.m. Pairings will be shuffled for the final two rounds depending on standings.
USC NCAA Championships History
USC has won NCAA titles in 2003 and 2008. The Trojans finished six strokes ahead of UCLA in 2008 and were 15 strokes better than second-place Pepperdine in 2003 ... This is USC's 26th overall NCAA Championship final appearance and 16th in a row, all under 17th-year head coach Andrea Gaston. In addition to winning two titles, the Trojans have four times finished second (2012, 2010, 2006 and 1994) and also finished third in 2009 and 1986, fourth in 2007, 2000 and 1987, fifth in 1993 and tied for fifth in 2011. In fact, USC's combined 13 NCAA top 5 finishes trail only conference rival Arizona State (15) and are tied with UCLA for second ... The Trojans' second-place finishes in 2010 and 2012 were by just one stroke ... USC has won three NCAA individual titles, including Jennifer Rosales in 1998, Mikaela Parmlid in 2003 (in a one-hole playoff) and Dewi Claire Schreefel in 2006. USC's three individual title winners ties it for third most in NCAA history with Duke. Arizona State has five and Arizona has four ... In addition to its three individual champions, USC players have posted nine other top five finishes. Jennifer Song (2009) was second, Paola Moreno (2007) tied for second, Irene Cho (2003), Candie Kung (2001) and Dana Arnold (1990) all tied for third, Jill McGill (1994) and Belen Mozo (2008) finished fourth, Rosales tied for fourth (1999) and Leila Chartrand (2000) and Song (2010) tied for fifth ... The NCAA title in 2008 was USC's fourth consecutive tournament win at the time, a first in program history ... USC had five All-Americans in 2008 for the first time in school history Dewi Claire Schreefel, Paola Moreno, Belen Mozo, Stefanie Endstrasser, Lizette Salas) ... In 1998, Rosales was 9-under par after three rounds, tying for the best score in NCAA Championship history through three rounds ... USC's best combined round at an NCAA Championship is 282, set in the first round of the 2010 NCAAs at Country Club of Landfall Dye Course in Wilmington, N.C. ... Troy's best individual round at an NCAA Championships is 66, carded by Jennifer Rosales during her title run in 1998.
USC at the 2012 NCAA Championships
For the second time in three years, the NCAA Women's Golf Championships came down to one stroke and for the second time in three years, USC had one too many, the No. 3 Trojans finishing in second place behind Alabama on at the 2012 NCAA Women's Golf Championships at the Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin, Tenn., hosted by Vanderbilt. The Trojans finished at 20-over 1172 (297-288-294-293), one off of Alabama's 19-over 1171 (286-285-306-294). LSU charged late to put pressure on the leaders and take third at 21-over 1173 (293-294-297-289) while Virginia claimed fourth at 23-over 1175 (288-294-301-292). It was the Cavaliers who lost five strokes in the first round after a player signed for an incorrect scorecard. Alabama held a four-stroke lead with only two players per team left on the course as they finished up 18. But when the Tide's Jennifer Kirby unexpectedly double bogeyed 18 while Trojan senior Inah Park calmly sank a birdie putt, it trimmed the lead to just one. USC finished with freshman Doris Chen on the course, whose struggles on the day made her the Trojans' drop score, meaning her score would not have an affect on Troy's outcome. Whether or not USC could catch Alabama came down to the Tide's senior Brooke Pancake. After a tough third shot, she was left with about 60 feet, needing to two-putt for the title. Three putts would send USC into a playoff. But her first putt lipped the cup and stayed within about four feet and she sank the winner from there for par and the championship. Chen finished off a fantastic freshman campaign tied for 14th at 5-over 293 (75-69-72-77) while seniors Lisa McCloskey (76-72-74-72) and Inah Park (74-73-73-74) tied for 21st at 6-over 294. Sophomore Sophia Popov tied for 38th at 9-over 297 (75-74-75-73) while sophomore Rachel Morris tied for 77th at 16-over 304 (73-80-77-74). USC's one-stroke, second-place finish mirrored its result in 2010 when the Trojans lost to Purdue. That year, Jennifer Song had a birdie chance to send USC to a playoff, but was just off. USC's finish was its 13th top five NCAA finish overall, tying UCLA for second and trailing only Arizona State (15).
USC AT A GLANCE
The Trojans, under 17th-year NGCA Hall of Fame coach Andrea Gaston, are led by junior Sophia Popov and sophomore Doris Chen. Popov was a 2011 All-American first teamer and earned All-American honorable mention honors in 2012. Chen was an All-American first teamer in 2012. Each won conference titles as freshmen, Popov in 2011, Chen in 2012. Popov was named to Golf World's 2012 "Top 10" Female Players to Watch list while Chen was on its "Top 50" list. Also back is junior Rachel Morris, a 2011 NCAA All-Region performer who had a pair of top 20 finishes as a 2012 sophomore.
Five freshmen have joined the squad to bolster the Trojan roster. The highly rated Kyung Kim of Chandler, Ariz., and Kim Santiago from Lynwood, Wash., joined the team in the fall while the talented trio of Annie Park from Levittown, N.Y., Ellie Chai from Sherman Oaks, Calif., and Victoria Morgan from Pasadena, Calif., were added to the squad in January.
Kim is a four-time Rolex Junior All-American, twice as a first teamer, and the 2010 Arizona High School Player of the Year. She was also on Golf World's 2012 "Top 50" Female Players to Watch list. Santiago is a two-time AJGA Scholastic All-American. Park enters USC a semester early as a top 20 junior who played as an amateur at the 2012 U.S. Women's Open. Chai was a promising junior originally from New Orleans before moving to Los Angeles whose career was sidetracked due to a shoulder injury. She is healthy again and on the comeback trail. Morgan is an All-CIF performer who was the captain and MVP of her prep boys' team and was also an All-CIF tennis player.
USC NOTES
* Sophia Popov broke the school career record for rounds in the 60s at the 2013 Pac-12s and now has 16, breaking the tie at 15 she temporarily shared with Jennifer Song. Song did it in two seasons while Popov surpassed the total in under three years. The school record for a season is eight. Popov is also Troy's active leader in wins with five, sharing the school career record with Irene Cho and Mikaela Parmlid.
* Freshman Annie Park has three firsts this year, one off the school record of four shared by Parmlid (2003) and Cho (2006). * Freshman Kyung Kim broke USC's record for lowest round with a final-round 63 to rise to a tie for third at the recently completed 2013 NCAA West Regional at the Stanford G.C. She broke the previous record of 64 shared by Lisa McCloskey (2010) and Irene Cho (2006). All three of those rounds were 8-under. * The Trojans' win at the 2013 NCAA West Region at Stanford extended its NCAA record for regional wins to nine, including four in a row and in seven of the past eight seasons. The past seven came in 2006 (Central), 2007 (Central), 2008 (West), 2010 (Central), 2011 (West), 2012 (Central) and 2013 (West). USC advanced out of the NCAA Regional for the 17th year in a row in its 22nd consecutive NCAA appearance (the last 16 under 17th-year Head Coach Andrea Gaston). * The Trojans boast a school record six wins this year, breaking 2008 record of five. USC has finished first at the SDSU Farms and Bruin Wave Invitationals, the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate, the Stanford Intercollegiate, the Pac-12 Championships and the NCAA West Regional. It marks the seventh time in the past eight years USC has won two or more events in a season. It is also the seventh time in the last 10 and the 10th time in the last 14. Troy won five times in 2008, four each in 2003, 2010 and 2011 and three times in 1999.
* Three different players have posted individual wins this year. Popov won at the SDSU Farms Invitational while Park won the event before at the Bruin Wave Invitational, edged Popov by two strokes at the Pac-12 Championships and tied for first at the NCAA West Region (where there was no playoff). Fellow freshman Kyung Kim won at the Stanford Intercollegiate. * USC also has a combined 19 other top 10 finishes outside of its five firsts.
* Park's title at the Pac-12s marked the third straight year a Trojan freshman won the conference individual title. Popov did it in 2011 while Chen won in 2012. * USC's conference title (by 24 strokes) was its fifth in program history (and third in the past six seasons) and Park's individual conference crown was Troy's sixth. * This is only the third year USC has had three different players each finish first at an event in at least 20 years. USC did it last season when Lisa McCloskey, Doris Chen and Popov each won and it also had three winners in 2008 Belen Mozo, Dewi Claire Schreefel, Paola Moreno).
* The last time USC boasted five individual firsts came in 2006 (Cho with four and Schreefel with one). * USC features four players ranked in Golfweek.com's top 31, including Park at No. 1, Popov at No. 6, Kim at No. 12 and sophomore Doris Chen at No. 31. Junior Rachel Morris is ranked No. 54 after getting to a career-best No. 49 earlier this season.
* Popov and Park are tied with a team-best six top 10 finishes while Kim has five, Chen has four and Morris has three. Popov has finished no worse than 17th in all but one event, Park no worse than 27th and Kim has been 23rd or better in all but one event. Chen has finished below 25th only twice.
* Popov has a team-best five rounds in the 60s this year while Kim and Park have four each and Morris has three. Kim's 63 is low for the year, but she also had a 66 at the same Stanford course in the fall while Popov also had a 66 in the first round at the Pac-12s.
* Popov was named the Pac-12's Women's Golfer of the Month for April after winning at the SDSU Farms Invitational, finishing tied for 10th at the PING/ASU Invitational and taking second at the Pac-12s. It was her first such honor in her career. * Park leads USC with a stroke average of 71.71 while Popov is second (72.25) and Kim third (72.59). The school season record is 71.55, set by Jennifer Song in 2009. Park's current average would be good for third-best in a season at USC.
* Popov led Germany to second place at the 2012 Women's World Amateur Team Championship, completed Sept. 30, in Antalya, Turkey. Popov, a two-time All-American as a Trojan, led Germany to a combined 10-under during four rounds of play, three back of first-place Korea. Popov, in fact, led the German team at 6-under 282 (72-70-72-68), good for sixth place. Former teammate and 2012 USC graduate and fellow All-American McCloskey tied for fourth at 7-under 281 (70-71-67-73). The U.S. finished eighth at 6-under.
* In a weather-shortened one-round event, Park made her debut for the USC women's golf team with a third-place, par 72 while fellow frosh Ellie Chai also saw her first Trojan action at the 2013 Lady Bulldog Individual Championship at the University of Georgia G.C. in Athens, Ga., on Feb. 2. Playing on the same course that will host the NCAA Championships in May, Park finished three strokes behind winner Mia Piccio of Florida and one back of Furman's Laura Wearn. Chai finished tied for 28th with an 83.
* Chen played as an amateur at the 2013 Kraft Nabisco Championship in the first week of April. She played the first two rounds at 7-over 151 (74-77) and missed the cut by two strokes. Former Trojan Lizette Salas tied for 25th (though she was tied for second heading into the final round) while her former USC teammate Belen Mozo tied for 41st. Other former Trojans that qualified for the major but missed the cut included Veronica Felibert, Jennifer Song, Nicole Castrale and Dewi Claire Schreefel.
* Salas is having a grand year and entered mid May ranked No. 6 on the LPGA's money list and already has four top 10 finishes. The next closest former Trojan is Candie Kung at No. 40. Also in the top 110 are Castrale, Mozo, Schreefel, Moreno, Song, Lisa McCloskey, Felibert, Irene Cho and Jennifer Rosales.
2012-2013 Event Recaps
NCAA West Regional, May 9-11
Freshman Annie Park tied for first to finish atop the leaderboard for her second straight event and fellow freshman Kyung Kim fired a school-record 63 to climb into a tie for third, the duo leading No. 1 USC to a come-from-behind win on the final day of the 2013 NCAA Championships West Regional at the Stanford (Calif.) G.C. USC, coming off a win at the Pac-12 Championships, won its fourth straight NCAA regional for its school-record sixth win of the season at 7-over 859 (290-289-280), edging second-round Purdue by one stroke to advance to its 16th straight NCAA final. The Boilermakers finished at 8-over 860 (291-286-283). The Trojans, whose win was their NCAA best ninth regional title, trailed Purdue by two strokes and Vanderbilt by one entering the final round, but passed both thanks to Park's and Kim's fine rounds. A two-time winner already this season, Park claimed her third victory of the season (there are no playoffs in NCAA regionals) at 7-under 206 (67-71-68). She had five birdies on the day and was at 4-under through 17 before a bogey on 18 prevented her from taking first alone. She shared first with Purdue's Paula Reto (71-69-66), who was part of Park's threesome today. The main showstopper Saturday was Kim, who turned in a nine-birdie day, including four in a row between 14 and 17, to card a 63 and break the school record shared by Lisa McCloskey (2010) and Irene Cho (2006) at 64. All three rounds were 8-under. Kim, who tied for third at 3-under 210 (75-72-63), opened with birdies on 1 and 2 and complemented them with birdies on 7 and 8. She bogeyed 10 to prove she was human and then birdied five of her final seven holes for her 63.
Pac-12 Championships, April 22-24
No. 1 USC more than doubled its second-round lead en route to a 24-stroke win at the 2013 Pac-12 Women's Golf Championships and Annie Park became the Trojans' third consecutive freshman to win the conference individual title as play finished at the Valencia (Calif.) C.C. USC combined for a 54-hole 11-under 853 (280-291-282), running away from the field from the start of final-round action and cruising home with the program's fifth conference title. The win is also USC's school-record tying fifth this season. Washington finished second at 13-over 877, passing UCLA, which began the day in second, 11 back, but finished in third at 15-over 879. Arizona and Stanford tied for fourth at 18-over 882. Park followed in the footsteps of junior teammate Sophia Popov (2011) and sophomore teammate Doris Chen (2012) to win USC's sixth conference individual title. Paola Moreno (2008), Candie Kung (2000) and Jennifer Biehn (1994) were Troy's other winners. Park entered the final round tied for first at 4-under while Popov was tied for third at 3-under. But while Park got off to a slow start, going 2-over through 8, Popov opened with a flurry and took the lead at 7-under at the turn. Popov's start mirrored that of the overall team as the Trojans quickly extended their second-round lead and built it steadily throughout the day, eliminating any question as to which team would win the team title. The drama was left to who would claim the individual crown as Park used a birdie on 9 as a platform for her own hot streak as she worked herself back up the leaderboard. Park birdied 12 and 13 to get to 5-under and then caught Popov at 6-under with a birdie on 15. The freshman took over the lead when Popov bogeyed 17 while Park converted for par. Popov's birdie putt on 18 was just off, which left Park needing a par for the win. Park hit her second shot on the par 5 18th just short of the green and left her third shot about 20 feet from the hole. Needing two putts for the win, Park only took one, sinking her 20-footer for the win. Park finished at 7-under 209 (70-70-69) while the first player to congratulate her was Popov, who took second at 5-under 211 (66-75-70). Joining them in the top 10 were Chen, who tied for seventh at 1-over 217 (72-71-74) and junior Rachel Morris, who finished 10th at 2-over 218 (72-77-69). Freshman Kyung Kim tied for 20th at 7-over 223 (73-75-75).
PING/ASU Invitational, April 12-14
Juniors Rachel Morris and Sophia Popov tied for 10th, leading the No. 1 USC women's golf team as its three-tournament win streak was finally snapped during the final round of the PING/ASU Invitational at the Karsten G.C. in Tempe, Ariz. USC, a four-time winner this year, tied for fifth at 1-under 863 (283-288-292). Defending NCAA champion Alabama got hot in the final round and won at 19-under 845 (284-284-277), including a blistering final round of 11-under. No. 4 Duke finished second at 10-under 854 while Arizona and Stanford tied for third at 2-under 862. Morris tied for 10th at 3-under for the second event in a row while Popov followed her win two weeks ago with her fourth top 10 in a row. Popov (72-72-69) carded her third round in the 60s this year and the 15th of her career, tying USC's career record held by Jennifer Song. Her final round saw her go out at 1-over with a bogey, but come in with four birdies for a 3-under finish. Morris, who opened with a career best 68 and a second-round 70, finished with a 75. She was 1-under through 14 Sunday before some late stumbles dropped her to 3-over.
SDSU Farms Invitational, March 31-April 2
Junior Sophia Popov won her USC record-tying fifth career individual title while her four teammates joined her in the top 10 as the Trojans' No. 1 women's golf team ran away with the SDSU Farms Invitational for its third straight win at The Farms G.C. in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. USC finished at a combined 11-over 875 (298-289-288) to win by 21 strokes over second-place Arizona (896) while Pepperdine was third (904). The victory was not only the Trojans' third in a row but the fourth in the past five events. The last time USC won three or more in a row was when the Trojans closed the 2008 season with four straight victories, a streak that culminated with the 2008 NCAA title. USC last won four times in a season in 2011. Popov finished at 1-over 217 (74-69-74) to claim her first title this year. She had three as a freshman and one as a sophomore. She was 2-under through 10 holes today before a bogey on 11 and a double on 16 helped Arizona's Manon Gidali -- in the same pairing as Popov - close to within one stroke. But Gildali was unable to make up the final stroke and settled for second.
Bruin Wave Invitational, March 4-5
Freshman Annie Park won her first career collegiate title and led a comeback effort as the No. 1 USC women's golf team erased an eight-hole deficit to begin the day to win its second event in a row and third this season at the Bruin Wave Invitational at the El Caballero C.C. in Tarzana, Calif. The Trojans, coming off of a win at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate in New Orleans last week, finished at 20-over 884 (290-301-293), two strokes ahead of second-place UCLA (22-over 886). USC entered the final round eight back of the Bruins. The last time USC won three times in a season was 2011. Park finished first at 1-under 215 (68-76-71), four better than second-place Marissa Chow of Pepperdine (3-over 219). After carding her first sub-70 round in yesterday's opening round before following it with a 76, the freshman put together a steady final round with 1-under 71. The finish marked her third top 10 finish and fourth in the top 18 in four events. Fellow freshman Kyung Kim notched her third top 10 finish in the past four events, tying for seventh at 7-over 223 (73-76-74). Her final round included four birdies.
Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate, Feb. 22-24
Junior Sophia Popov holed a seven-foot birdie try on the first playoff hole to give the No. 1 USC women's golf team the title at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate on at the English Turn Golf and Country Club in New Orleans. USC (287-293) and UCLA (283-297) had tied at 4-over 580 after 36 holes of regulation play (bookending a rained out Monday), setting up Popov's winning putt on the 18th hole. The win, clinched during a final round made difficult by strong winds, is USC's second this year, its third top 2 finish in a row and its fifth top 3 finish in five outings. Popov tied for second at 2-under 142 (70-72) for her best finish of the season and her second in the top 5. After bogeying her opening hole (3) in the shotgun start, she finished with three birdies against two bogeys for the par round, one of only six rounds of par or better Tuesday in the 90-woman field. Freshman Annie Park tied for eighth at even 144 (71-73). With a 2nd hole start, she bogeyed three of her first four holes, but tightened things up and finished the final 14 holes at 2-under. It was her third top 18 finish in as many outings in her first semester of action.
Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge, Feb. 11-13
A day after combining for the lowest round in tournament history in at least 13 years to take a one-stroke lead, the No. 1 USC women's golf team struggled to find the same the groove and finished second at the annual Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge at the Palos Verdes (Calif.) G.C. USC finished at 27-over 879 (298-280-301), nine back of UCLA (870) and two better than third-place Duke (881). The Trojans lost ground also when junior Sophia Popov was disqualified due to a scorecard infraction. Freshman Kyung Kim, who won USC's final fall event, finished third at 3-over 216 (74-69-73), three out of first place. She opened play at 3-over through six holes but birdied 7 and 8 and was 1-over on the back 9. Freshman Annie Park, in her first team competition of her Trojan career, tied for 18th at 10-over 223 (72-76-75).
Stanford Intercollegiate, Oct. 19-21
Freshman Kyung Kim followed her second-round 66 with a final-round 68 to win her first collegiate title while leading No. 3 USC to a four-stroke team win at the Stanford (Calif.) Intercollegiate. USC finished its three-event fall schedule at a combined 5-over 857 (286-285-286) at Stanford, four better than second-place Washington (861) and 11 better than the host Cardinal (868). Kim, who claimed the solo lead with her 5-under second round, maintained her momentum in the final round with a 3-under round to finish 7-under 206 (72-66-68), three better than second place SooBin Kim of Washington (209). Sophomore Doris Chen finished a strong event tied for third at 1-under 212 (69-70-73) and had two birdies during her final round. It was her third top 16 finish of the fall.
Fall Preview, Oct. 5-7
Junior Sophia Popov used a 2-under 70 to finish tied for fifth while sophomore Doris Chen carded a par as No. 4 USC tied for fourth at the 2012 Liz Murphey Fall Preview at the University of Georgia G.C. in Athens. The Trojans tied for third at a combined 19-over 883 (295-297-291). North Carolina came from behind to win at 12-over 876 (297-289-290) while defending NCAA champion Alabama took second at 16-over 880 (296-289-295). USC caught and tied day two leader Auburn. Popov posted her second straight top 12 finish at even 216 (71-75-70), three strokes out of first. Chen also posted her second top 20 result in a row, tying for 16th at 3-over 219 (73-74-72). Popov had a four-birdie round and was 2-under on the back 9 while Chen had two birdies against two bogeys. Freshman Kyung Kim tied for 23rd at 5-over 221 (75-71-75).
Cougar Classic, Sept. 9-11
USC opened the 2012-13 season with a third-place finish at the College of Charleston "Cougar Classic" at the Yeamans Hall Club in Charleston, S.C., in September. Junior Sophia Popov and sophomore Doris Chen tied for 12th while freshman Kyung Kim tied for 14th. The Trojans finished a combined 1-under 863 (285-283-295). Florida, the second-round leader, went on to win at 12-under 852 while Duke finished second at 6-under 858. Popov (70-69-76) and Chen (72-71-72) tied for 12th at 1-under 215. Popov had two birdies in her final round while Chen paired four bogeys with four birdies.
