May 8, 2004

NORMAL, Ill. - The Baylor women's golf team shot a final-round 306 Saturday for a total of 915 to finish fifth at the NCAA Central Regional and clinch the program's first-ever spot in the NCAA Championship. The three-day tournament was hosted by Illinois State at the 6,108-yard, par-71 University Golf Course, with the top eight teams advancing to the national title round.

Sophomore Josefin Svenningsson (Gislaved, Sweden) wrapped up a great tournament with an even-par 71 to finish third at 218 (75-72-71). Svenningsson, who now has six Top-10 and three Top-5 showings this year, carded five birdies on the round, playing the front nine at 2-under par.

Freshman Anna Rehnholm (Karlskrona, Sweden) finished tied for 45th at 235 (79-74-82). Rehnholm parred five straight holes after a bogey on the first, which was actually the 10th for the Bears since they started the day from the 10th tee.

Sophomore Meredith Jones (Eugene, Ore.) and seniors Kelli McKandless (Hamilton, Texas) and Michaelyn Morgan (Austin, Texas) each finished tied for 49th at 236. Jones (77-74-85) would have had a good final round had it not been for a nine on the par-3 11th. McKandless (82-77-76) posted a great third round, playing the front nine at one over, and posting a birdie on each side. Morgan (81-78-77) had the Bears' highlight of the day with an eagle on the par-5 sixth.

Vanderbilt (893) took the regional title with a tremendous 288 on the final day to finish nine strokes ahead of Arizona (902). Michigan State (906) finished third, while Southern Cal (910) bettered the Bears, who were making thier fifth straight regional appearance, by five strokes. The other three teams to advance to the NCAA Championship were Purdue, New Mexico and Texas A&M. Oklahoma State advanced out of the East Regional, giving the Big 12 three representatives at the NCAA Championship, tying for the second-most with the ACC, SEC and Big Ten. The Pac-10 will have eight teams in the field.

Arizona's Erica Blasberg led wire-to-wire to capture individual medalist honors with a 212 (68-73-71), three strokes ahead of Vanderbilt's May Wood (73-72-70=215) and six strokes better than Svenningsson.

The 24-team field, with eight advancing from the East and West Regionals as well, will compete for the NCAA Championship hosted by Auburn May 18-21 at Grand National Lake Course in Opelika, Ala.

Baylor Individual Scores
3. Josefin Svenningsson   75-72-71=218
T45. Anna Rehnholm        79-74-82=235
T49. Meredith Jones       77-74-85=236
T49. Michaelyn Morgan     81-78-77=236
T49. Kelli McKandless     83-77-76=236

Team Standings
1. Vanderbilt         298-307-288=893
2. Arizona            299-313-290=902
3. Michigan State     302-303-301=906
4. Southern Cal       300-311-299=910
5. Baylor             312-297-306=915
6. Purdue             305-309-303=917
7. New Mexico         298-320-300=918
8. Texas A&M          305-317-304=926
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T9. SMU               316-302-311=929
T9. Illinois State    313-308-308=929
11. Northwestern      313-305-316=934
12. TCU               308-319-308=935
13. Missouri          303-323-310=936
14. Oklahoma          311-321-314=946
15. Kansas State      326-311-312=949
16. Arkansas          308-325-317=950
17. Notre Dame        319-312-321=952
18. Indiana           311-319-324=954
19. Princeton         320-317-324=961
20. Kent State        325-318-321=965
21. Tulsa             319-321-326=966