HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. – The University of Redlands Women's Golf team ended the shortened 2023 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Women's Golf Championship in sixth place after shooting their best round of the tournament, a 304, as they finished with a three-round total of 951 (320-327-304). Hannah Jugar (Chula Vista, CA) made the podium as she tied as the national runner-up after a final round 72, the third lowest of the day.
The championships were shortened from four rounds to three after the course was considered unplayable during round three. At the time the decision was made that the round had been suspended due to darkness after a weather delay forced everyone off the course in the afternoon. Most teams had already finished their third round when the NCAA decided to cancel the round and revert to the second round standings for the final day.
Redlands tied the champions George Fox University (GFU) for the second lowest team total on the day and in the tournament, trailing only runner-up and No. 3 Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) who shot a tournament low 299 to end the three days. In third place was Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) rival Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS). Fourth and fifth was Carnegie Melon University (CMU) and Emory University. Redlands was one stroke behind Emory, four behind CMU, eight out of third, 13 behind WashU, and 18 out of first.
Jugar came into the final round sitting in a tie for eighth and five strokes out of first. She finished her three rounds with a 227 (75-80-72). Her final round 72 tied for the third lowest round in the tournament behind the individual national champion from WashU's 68 today and her teammates' 71 also coming today. Jugar tied another WashU golfer for second as she made up three strokes to get the tie. Jugar finished as one of only three golfers to finish the tournament at or below par on Par 3's as she was even and third overall. On Par 4's she finished second at three over. Where she would have made up the three-stroke deficit was on Par 5's as she was five over in comparison to the one under the WashU golfer posted.
The national runner-up finish is a new career best for Jugar after finishing 11th in 2022, T-24th in 2021, and the 2020 season was canceled in March. Her 2022-23 season average score will finish at a 73.69, 1695 across 23 rounds, the second lowest in program history only behind her 2021-22 season average of 73.61.
After a couple of tough rounds Iris Liu (Diamond Bar, CA) showed why she was an All-America selection in her first two seasons as she moved up into a tie for 17th, an improvement of 31 spots. She shot a 71, the second lowest of the tournament and finished with a three-round 235 (81-83-71). Liu ends her junior season with a 76.08 average, 1750 over 23 rounds, the 11th lowest all-time and her second lowest behind her 76.00 last season.
Coming in tied for 45th thanks to a 19 position improvement was Kendall Nicholson (Bellevue, WA) who ends her tournament with a 245 (83-84-78). In the tournament she had 26 pars and four birdies. She tied for 19th with a 4.48 average on Par 4's.
On the season Nicholson's round average finishes at a 75.39, 1734 over 23 rounds, the seventh lowest all-time and a new career-low, beating out her 2021-22 average of 76.50 (13th lowest). Four of her five seasons, and her last three, all sit inside the Top-20 for lowest single-season averages.
Andrea York (Oakdale, CA) ends the championships in a tie for 52nd after shooting a three-round 247 (81-83-83). Despite the finish, York finished tied for ninth with a 3.17 average on Par 3's and added 30 pars and four birdies. She finishes her junior season with a 76.26 average, and a 1754 over 23 rounds. That is the 12th lowest all-time and gives her two career Top-20 marks along with her 2021-22 average of 77.16, 1929 over 25 rounds, which is the 15th lowest.
Finishing tied for 69th is first-year Jizelle Robledo (La Habra, CA) who ends her first championships with a 252 (87-81-84). On the day she finishes four spots higher than she started. She had a total of 21 pars and six birdies, the 18th most. Her season average finishes at a 78.91, an 1815 over 23 rounds, only 0.59 out of a tie for 20th.
The Bulldogs' sixth-place finish gives them their third-straight top-six finish, their fifth Top-10 finish in the last five championships, and their sixth Top-10 finish in program history, all coming since 2015. Four of their 12 lowest individual round averages came this season, one more than the 2021-22 season. Their team round average of 75.02 is a new program record and 0.31 better than the previous record of 75.33 from last season.