CARLSBAD, Calif. — The Oregon women’s golf team came up one step short of the national championship match on Tuesday, dropping a 3-1 decision to UCLA in the match play semifinals of the NCAA Championships at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa.
After taking down LSU earlier in the day to reach the semifinals, the Ducks fell behind early in the first three pairings of the match and the Bruins were able to secure a pair of points. Kiara Romero won her match and Ting-Hsuan Huang had Oregon in position for a second point at 2 up with two holes to play, but a valianthole-out attempt from the greenside bunker on No. 17 by Minori Nagano missed just right and a two-putt by UCLA put the match away.
The loss caps a memorable week for Oregon, which reached NCAA match play for the third time in program history and advanced to the semifinals for the second time in the last three years.
“It took a lot out of us to get that win this morning,” head coach Derek Radley said. “I think we were a little bit low on energy this afternoon. We were kind of hitting some squirrelly shots and it definitely played a little bit tougher this afternoon; when that wind picks up, it’s a beast.
“Just so proud to be back on this stage. These girls – our two seniors absolutely led this team, CCT (Ching-Tzu Chen) and Minori, and our three freshmen just completely stepped up. Really excited with where we’re going and we have absolutely nothing to hang our chins about. What they did here this week was incredibly special and something that I’m extremely proud of.”
How it Happened: Wins of 7&5 and 4&3 by the Bruins meant the Ducks needed to win each of the three remaining matches to advance to the title match. Both Chen and Nagano were 3 down through 14 holes, and UCLA’s Meghan Royal made a 40-plus foot birdie putt on No. 15 to defeat Chen.
With Romero and Huang both leading for Oregon, Royal’s win over Chen brought the match down to Nagano, who went to No. 16 at 3 down with three holes to play. She made a terrific up-and-down from the greenside bunker to save par, and Natalie Vo missed a par putt to extend the match to the 17th.
Nagano’s approach at 17 came up short, again in a greenside bunker, while Vo stuck her approach on the green. Needing to win the hole to push the match to the 18th,Nagano’s bunker shot ran just to the right of the pin and allowed Vo two putts to win the match.
Romero capped a sensational freshman season and showing at the NCAA Championships with her second win of the day, a 4&3 win over a top-10 ranked opponent in Zoe Campos. Romero won five straight holes from No. 2 to No. 6 to take a commanding lead, and was 3 up through 14 holes before winning at the 15th to put a point on the board for the Ducks.
Huang was locked in a battle all afternoon with Kate Villegas, trading holes on the front nine to make the turn at all square. Huang bounced back from losing at the12th to pull even again at the 13th, and then made par on the 14th to go 1 up. Another par at No. 16 put her at 2 up with two holes remaining, and she was in the middle of the fairway on 17 when the Bruins clinched the match.
What it Means: The Ducks defied outside expectations this week in Carlsbad with three true freshmen in their lineup, tying for sixth in stroke play to reach match play and then pulling off an upset of a top-five team in LSU to return to the semifinals. Reaching the final four also secured UO’s invitation next fall to the East Lake Cup, a prestigious tournament that traditionally includes the national semifinalists from the prior spring. While the contributions and leadership of Chen and Nagano will be difficult to replace, Oregon has a bright future with a trio of freshmen who now have invaluable experience on the game’s biggest stage.
NCAA Semifinal – UCLA 3, Oregon 1
Caroline Canales (UCLA) def. Karen Tsuru (Oregon), 7&5
Meghan Royal (UCLA) def. Ching-Tzu Chen (Oregon), 4&3
Natalie Vo (UCLA) def. Minori Nagano (Oregon), 2&1
Ting-Hsuan Huang (Oregon) led Kate Villegas (UCLA), 2 up through 16 (unfinished)
Kiara Romero (Oregon) def. Zoe Campos (UCLA), 4&3
