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May 5, 2009
NSU Wins NCAA Women's Golf Regional; FSC, Rollins, Iacobelli Also Advance
Five SSC teams and one individual have been selected to compete in the NCAA Division II Women's Golf Super Regional Two May 3-5 at the Mission Inn Resort & Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.
Sunshine State Conference teams comprise five of the nine teams selected to compete in the field. Top-seed Nova Southeastern is joined by SSC champion and defending national champion Rollins, Florida Southern, Lynn, and Barry. Additionally, Florida Tech's Daniela Iacobelli has been tabbed to compete as an individual.
Joining the team hunt at Super Regional Two will be Pfeiffer, Belmont Abbey, West Florida, and Wingate.
Each super region's top three teams and three individuals not on one of those teams will advance to the NCAA Division II Women's Golf Finals May 13-16 at the University of Findlay (Ohio).
SSC teams have dominated DII women's golf the past decade, with member institutions claiming the past nine national titles. Rollins won the 2008 title, as well as four straight championships from 2003-06. Florida Southern won the 2007 national crown and three straight from 2000-02. Iacobelli walked away with the individual national championship in 2007.
ROUND TWO UPDATE:
Nova Southeastern (309-291=600) whittled 18 strokes off its first-round score to take over first place with one round left in the regional. NSU posted a day-two score of 291, the lowest of the day, to overtake Florida Southern atop the leaderboard. The Sharks had been in second after the first round, posting a 309. NSU will try to protect its 13-stroke lead over conference foe FSC heading into Tuesday's final 18 holes.
After taking the early lead with a first-round 302, Southern (302-311=613) carded a 311 in round two to hold down second place. Posting a day-two 297, Rollins climbed one spot into third place after shaving a whopping 22 strokes off its first-round score of 319.
Lynn (324-327=651) held steady in fifth place, turning in a second-round 327. Improving its first-round score by five strokes, Barry (330-325=655) tallied a 325 to climb two spots to sixth.
Individually, a pair of SSC players are also duking it out for medalist honors. Florida Southern's Heather Burgner (70-72) and NSU's Sandra Changkija (73-69) are tied atop the leaderboard with a two-round score of 142. The duo holds a five-stroke lead over third-place Maria Luz Besio from Newberry. Florida Tech's Daniela Iacobelli sits in 13th place (78-77=155) with one round remaining.
FINAL ROUND RECAP:
Nova Southeastern (309-291-312=912) shot a final-round 312, its highest of the tournament, but still managed to stave off SSC rivals Florida Southern (302-311-302=915) and Rollins (319-297-302=918) to win the NCAA DII Women's Golf Super Regional Two. NSU will advance to the NCAA DII finals May 13-16 in Findlay, Ohio. The Moccasins and Tars will join them there, as the top three teams from each Super Regional advance.
NSU also took home top individual honors, as Sandra Changkija carded a day-three 73 to finish with a one-under par 215 (73-69-73=215). FSC's Heather Burgner came in second with a three-over 219 (70-72-77).
Perhaps the most exciting showdown of the day took place after the conclusion of "regulation golf." In addition to the top three teams, the top three individuals not on one of those teams earned slots in the finals. Pfeiffer's Charlene Reid (3rd) and Catawba's Kelsey Babos (5th) locked up two of the positions after 54 holes. Newberry's Maria Luz Besio and Florida Tech's Daniela Iacobelli were tied for sixth place - and the final individual spot - after three rounds and went to a marathon playoff. The two dueled it out over four playoff holes, with Iacobelli emerging victorious to claim the final individual spot in Findlay. The Panther senior made par on the fourth playoff hole to advance.
Barry (330-325-311=966) improved its score for the second straight day to finish in fifth place. Lynn (324-327-326=977) concluded the regional with a sixth-place showing.
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