| Huarte
Leads AJGA Alums at NCAA Women’s Championship
Once again, AJGA alumnae came up big at the NCAA Division
I Women’s Champions, where the leaderboard was
dominated by AJGA players of yesteryear.
 |
| Sarah
Huarte |
Starting
at the top, Sarah Huarte of California captured the
crown at 10-under-par, shooting 73-69-67-69—278
over the course of four days. During her AJGA career,
Huarte picked up a few top-five finishes, including
a third-place at the Sacramento Junior Classic in 1999.
At Grand National in Opelika, Ala., Huarte turned on
the birdie machine, making 25 birdies in 72 holes.
Tournament champion UCLA was led by Susie Matthews,
but three AJGA alumnae played a huge part in the team
victory. Charlotte Mayorkas, Gina Umeck and Hannah Jun
are former Rolex Junior All-Americans who helped their
squad to the championship. Individually, Mayorkas placed
fourth and Umeck finished 16th.
Duke, which fielded a team of former AJGA standouts
and had won 9 of 10 events this year, finished in third
place. The Blue Devils are somewhat of an AJGA all-star
team, featuring Rolex Junior Player of the Year Liz
Janangelo, first-team Rolex Junior All-Americans Leigh
Anne Hardin, Virada Nirapathpongporn and Brittany Lang,
and second-team Rolex Junior All-American Anna Grzebien.
 |
| Charlotte Mayorkas |
Other
teams were also led by AJGA veterans, including second-place
finisher Oklahoma State, who features AJGA alumnae Mallorie
Underwood (sixth), Annie Thurman, Candy Herrera and
Ashley Knoll.
Tennessee placed 11th, but individually, Jessica Shepley,
a former Rolex Junior All-American, placed fifth. California
finished fourth, paced by Huarte and Irene Cho. Vanderbilt
was fifth, thanks to Sarah Jacobs’ sixth-place
finish, along with the efforts of Chris Brady, Courtney
Wood and Kristen Svicarovich.
“Players come out of the AJGA prepared for college
golf,” said Stephen Hamblin, AJGA Executive Director.
“Whether they are freshmen or seniors, we have
seen their ability to stand up to the pressure on the
collegiate level. Our congratulations go out to Sarah
for her victory, and the UCLA team for their team title.” |
