Oklahoma State Cowgirls In National Championship NCAA Golf Match

Publisher’s Note: This story was writtent by Stephen Howard of Oklahoma State University Athletic Media Relations, who is onsite in Arizona with the OSU women’s golf team.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The No. 3 seed Oklahoma State women’s golf team is one win away from the program’s first NCAA Championship.

The Cowgirls swept No. 2 seed and defending national champion Duke, 5-0, and will face No. 4 Ole Miss for the title on Wednesday afternoon. The match will tee off at 3:35 p.m. CT and will be televised on Golf Channel.

A victory on Wednesday would be the first women’s NCAA team championship for Oklahoma State.

“I’m just so happy for all of them,” said head coach Greg Robertson about his team. “They all played well today and I was keeping up with the live scoring, a couple of them got down early, but they kept fighting and clawing their way back. Towards the end we started winning some holes, it’s just incredible. I love seeing the excitement and all the hard work they’ve put into it, but now there’s one more.”

OSU rode a dominating performance from Maja Stark, who sealed a 4&3 win over Gina Kim with a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 15. Stark, who is currently ranked No. 7 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, notched five birdies on the day.

NCAA

Rina Tatematsu got the clincher.

Rina Tatematsu clinched the match with her 3&2 win over Phoebe Brinker and celebrated with her teammates off the green at No. 16. The freshman also notched a 3&2 victory in her morning round and finished in a tie for 12th in the individual standings.

“It’s amazing, today was a really fun round,” Tatematsu said afterwards. “I played with Phoebe (Brinker) we were back and forth for the first nine holes along with the back nine. She’s a really tough competitor, I just really enjoyed playing and being able to focus on the game.”

Isabella Fierro let out a roar as her 15-foot putt sank on No. 17 to seal her 2&1 victory over Erica Shepherd.

Lianna Bailey and Maddison Hinson-Tolchard were both up in their matches when the match was called.

Earlier in the day, Oklahoma State took down No. 6 Auburn, 4-1-0, to advance to the semifinals.

Victories from Maja Stark and Lianna Bailey allowed Isabella Fierro to close the match in dramatic fashion on the 19th hole. Fierro and Auburn's Megan Schofill were knotted after 18 holes, but the Cowgirl sophomore closed things after one playoff hole.

Rina Tatematsu also won her match, 3&2, over Mychael O'Berry of Auburn, while Maddison Hinson-Tolchard was trailing by 2 through 15 holes against Elena Hualde Zuniga.

NCAA Semifinal Summary
No. 3 Oklahoma State def. No. 2 Duke, 5-0
Maja Stark (OSU) def. Gina Kim (Duke), 4&3
Isabella Fierro (OSU) def. Erica Shepherd (Duke), 2&1
Lianna Bailey (OSU) def. Anne Chen (Duke), 1&1
Rina Tatematsu (OSU) def. Phoebe Brinker (Duke), 3&2
Maddison Hinson-Tolchard (OSU) def. Jaravee Boonchant (Duke), 1 Up

NCAA Quarterfinal Summary                                                                                                                     No. 3 Oklahoma State def. No. 6 Auburn, 4-1-0
Maja Stark (OSU) def. Kaleigh Telfer (AU), 2&1
Isabella Fierro (OSU) def. Megan Schofill (AU), 1 Up (19 holes)
Lianna Bailey (OSU) def. Anna Foster (AU), 3&2
Rina Tatematsu (OSU) def. Mychael O'Berry (AU), 3&2
Elena Hualde Zuniga (AU) def. Maddison Hinson-Tolchard (OSU), up 2 through 15