The Cougars Online -- Cal State San Marcos Athletics

Cougars Close Out Women's Golf Nationals in 9th Place
May 18, 2007

A successful 2007 NAIA Women's Golf National Championship concluded in San Marcos on Friday, and once again Oklahoma City was the last team standing, winning by a comfortable 18 shots over Lindsey Wilson College. Cal State San Marcos finished in 9th, the spot they've held since day two.

For the Cougars, the story of the tournament was the emergence of Ellyse Siu. The sophomore, who hails from Nevada, has made tremendous strides in her two years in Cougar blue. On Friday, despite shooting her worst round of the tournament, a +9 (81), she still finished in a team-best tie for 11th place in the field of 120 golfers with a four-round total of +25 (313). Last year, Siu tied for 68th at Nationals.

But while Ellyse Siu was CSUSM's story of the tournament, Jennell French was the story of day four. The senior, who ends her career having won a school-record four individual tournament titles, entered this week in search of her fifth. Though that hope was ended early on, French reminded everyone on Friday why she is the most successful golfer in CSUSM history. She shot a sparkling +3 (75), the best round of the tournament for any Cougar, and closed out the event in a tie for 21st, just four strokes behind Siu overall.

Junior Carly Ludwig finished third on the team, tying for 48th with a total of +38 (326). Ludwig's terrific first-round 76 kept CSUSM in the tournament early on, but closed out the competition with a disappointing +12 (84). Christina Austin and Kate Hansen finished in a tie for 88th, with a total of +58 (346). For Austin, a senior, the 2007 Nationals marks her final tournament in Cougar blue as well.

CSUSM finished with a four-day team score of +140 (1292), three shots behind William Woods College. Oklahoma City's winning mark was +85 (1237). In the individual competition, Krista Burton from Lindsey Wilson College held off all challengers, winning with a total of +7 (295). Bethel's Shanna Page finished second, four shots behind.

Though the 9th-place finish wasn't as high as the team hoped for going in, it's hard to argue that a top-10 finish nationally isn't a good thing. With the 2008 Nationals also taking place at Lake San Marcos, expect the squad to begin preparing for that event sooner rather than later.