Tuesday, October 25
Atlanta, GA
All Day
University of Oregon
vs
Auburn
Photo by: Michael Wade Photography
Ducks Drop Nail-Biter To Auburn
10/25/22 | Women's Golf
ATLANTA - The No. 6 Oregon women's golf team came up just short in a match that came down to extra holes against No. 24 Auburn on Tuesday, falling 3-2 in the semifinals of the East Lake Cup.
With the match tied at 2-2, the deciding point came down to the match between reigning Pac-12 individual champion Hsin-Yu (Cynthia) Lu and Auburn redshirt freshman Casey Weidenfeld. Lu was 2 up with four holes to play after making a birdie at 14, but Weidenfeld came storming back to force the match to a 19th hole, and was able to earn the win for the Tigers with a par at the par-3 15th.
"Obviously disappointed we won't be playing for the championship tomorrow, but what a tremendous match and an incredible fight by our team today," head coach Derek Radley said". It had all the makings of an NCAA Championships final, being on national TV and coming down to an extra hole in the final pairing. It's such an honor for our team to compete on this stage so early in our season, and this experience will definitely benefit us down the line. We're looking forward to getting back out there to compete tomorrow."
The Ducks will close out the East Lake Cup on Wednesday with a consolation match against UCLA, while Auburn will face No. 3 Texas A&M in the title match.
How it Happened: Briana Chacon put Oregon's first point of the day on the board, dominating Auburn's Rachel Gourley, 6&4. Chacon was 1 up through seven holes before winning three straight to get to 4 up. and she put the match away with wins at holes 13 and 14.
Junior Ashleigh Park continued her stellar start to her Oregon career, earning a 3&2 win over Elina Sinz. Park was 1 up at the turn before winning back-to-back holes to get to 3 up through 11, and Sinz was able to win just one more hole before Park put the match away with a win at No. 16.
Auburn's Megan Schofill defeated Oregon's Brittany Shin, 6&5, and Anna Foster won 4&2 against Ching-Tzu Chen to put two points on the board for the Tigers and set the stage for the drama between Lu and Weidenfeld.
Lu was in command of the match early, winning holes 3-5 to take a 3 up lead through the turn. Weidenfeld won at 11 and 12 to cut Lu's lead to 1 up, but Lu took back the momentum with a birdie putt that lipped in at No. 14.
Weidenfeld made birdie at 16 and Lu had a good look to do the same to keep the match at 2 up with two to play, but her putt lipped all the way around the cup and out to give the hole to Weidenfeld. Weidenfeld was able to even the match with a win at No. 17, and the pair halved No. 18 to send the match to a 19th hole.
Playing the 19th hole at the par-3 15th, both players missed the green on their tee shot with Lu in the greenside bunker and Weidenfeld just on the green. Lu pitched out of the bunker but had a lengthy look at par, while Weidenfeld lagged her putt from the fringe to a couple feet from the cup. Lu gave her putt a good look but just ran it over the right edge, and Weidenfeld was able to make her par to seal the match for the Tigers.
Up Next: Oregon and UCLA will tee off at 8:05 a.m. PT on Wednesday. Golf Channel will have coverage of the final day beginning at Noon PT.
With the match tied at 2-2, the deciding point came down to the match between reigning Pac-12 individual champion Hsin-Yu (Cynthia) Lu and Auburn redshirt freshman Casey Weidenfeld. Lu was 2 up with four holes to play after making a birdie at 14, but Weidenfeld came storming back to force the match to a 19th hole, and was able to earn the win for the Tigers with a par at the par-3 15th.
"Obviously disappointed we won't be playing for the championship tomorrow, but what a tremendous match and an incredible fight by our team today," head coach Derek Radley said". It had all the makings of an NCAA Championships final, being on national TV and coming down to an extra hole in the final pairing. It's such an honor for our team to compete on this stage so early in our season, and this experience will definitely benefit us down the line. We're looking forward to getting back out there to compete tomorrow."
The Ducks will close out the East Lake Cup on Wednesday with a consolation match against UCLA, while Auburn will face No. 3 Texas A&M in the title match.
How it Happened: Briana Chacon put Oregon's first point of the day on the board, dominating Auburn's Rachel Gourley, 6&4. Chacon was 1 up through seven holes before winning three straight to get to 4 up. and she put the match away with wins at holes 13 and 14.
Junior Ashleigh Park continued her stellar start to her Oregon career, earning a 3&2 win over Elina Sinz. Park was 1 up at the turn before winning back-to-back holes to get to 3 up through 11, and Sinz was able to win just one more hole before Park put the match away with a win at No. 16.
Auburn's Megan Schofill defeated Oregon's Brittany Shin, 6&5, and Anna Foster won 4&2 against Ching-Tzu Chen to put two points on the board for the Tigers and set the stage for the drama between Lu and Weidenfeld.
Lu was in command of the match early, winning holes 3-5 to take a 3 up lead through the turn. Weidenfeld won at 11 and 12 to cut Lu's lead to 1 up, but Lu took back the momentum with a birdie putt that lipped in at No. 14.
Weidenfeld made birdie at 16 and Lu had a good look to do the same to keep the match at 2 up with two to play, but her putt lipped all the way around the cup and out to give the hole to Weidenfeld. Weidenfeld was able to even the match with a win at No. 17, and the pair halved No. 18 to send the match to a 19th hole.
Playing the 19th hole at the par-3 15th, both players missed the green on their tee shot with Lu in the greenside bunker and Weidenfeld just on the green. Lu pitched out of the bunker but had a lengthy look at par, while Weidenfeld lagged her putt from the fringe to a couple feet from the cup. Lu gave her putt a good look but just ran it over the right edge, and Weidenfeld was able to make her par to seal the match for the Tigers.
Up Next: Oregon and UCLA will tee off at 8:05 a.m. PT on Wednesday. Golf Channel will have coverage of the final day beginning at Noon PT.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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