Buffs Endure Heartbreak in Ohio

History has a cruel way of repeating itself.

In last year’s NCAA Regionals, the University of Colorado women’s team finished one shot behind the University of Virginia for the sixth and final qualifying spot to advance to the NCAA National Championship.

This year, at the Columbus Regionals at Ohio State’s Scarlet Course, the team that started the day in ninth place staged a furious final-round rally, but at the end of the day they again finished one heartbreaking stroke from sixth-place University of Michigan—and the chance to continue postseason play.

Colorado carded a 45-over 909 or par final score for the event while Michigan closed at 44-over 908 to take sixth place and the right to advance.

“Heartbroken to say the least,” head coach Anne Kelly said. “The team played their hearts out and to miss two years in a row by only one shot is hard to take. But, this team will bounce back and learn from this experience. I’m so proud of them! They gave it their all and that’s all I can ask of them as a coach.”

The Buffaloes, who entered the day tied for ninth place, posted a 297 or 9-over par team score in the final round and in the process, put the pressure on both No. 13^th ranked Arkansas and Michigan down the stretch. Colorado, moved into sixth place after hole No. 14 where three Buffs dropped a birdie and Kirsty Hodgkins fired out an eagle to push the team above the red line. From the 14^th hole and on it was a battle between Michigan, Arkansas and CU. The Buffs and the Razorbacks were through their round and Michigan still had a few holes to go and held on to their lead finishing one stroke ahead of CU.

Florida and South Carolina shared the team-title with a 22-over 886. No. 5 ranked Florida State finished in third with a 27-over 891 while host Ohio State placed fourth at 29-over 893. Purdue moved up one spot to finish the tournament in fifth place at 40-over 904 while Michigan rounded out the top six teams advancing as they finished at 44-over 908.

Brittany Fan anchored the Buffs over the 54-hole tournament, she posted a final score of 8-over par 224. Fan turned in her best round on Wednesday, carding a 1-over 73. She closed out the front nine at 2-over with three bogeys and a birdie. And when the team needed to hold steady Fan did just that as she fired out four straight pars to begin the back nine. Hole No. 14 was a special hole for the Buffs as Fan was one of three who dropped a birdie to push the Buffs into sixth place. Fan stayed consistent the rest of the way adding on four more pars to finish at 1-under on the back nine. Fan collected 34 pars and seven birdies over the tournament to finish tied for 13th overall.

Freshman Kirsty Hodgkins shot a 1-over par on Tuesday alongside Fan and recorded a 9-over 225 three day total. She was the only Buff to card an eagle during the tournament as she dropped her first career eagle on hole No. 14 to help move the Buffs into sixth for a short time. In the final round, Hodgkins shot even par on the front nine and fought hard on the back nine recording her eagle and a birdie against two bogeys and a double. Hodgkins recorded 33 pars and five birdies over the tournament to finish tied for 22^nd.

Robyn Choi closed out the tournament with her best round shooting a 2-over 74. She went 75-78-74—227 or 11-over at the event. She had a strong back nine in the final round Tuesday, which was key to helping the Buffs stay in the hunt, paring four holes with three birdies on the back nine. Although, Choi closed out the tournament with a bogey and double, her birdie on hole No. 14 was a clutch moment to help out her team. Choi finished tied for 26th in the standings and collected a team best 8 birdies for the event.

Senior Esther Lee, only one of six Buffs in CU history to have played in three regionals, closed out her stellar career with a 5-over 77 on the final day. She led the entire field with 37 total pars for the event. She went 81-75-77—233 or 17-over. Lee had the most consistent day firing out 14 pars against three bogeys and a double on hole No. 18. Lee tied for 51^st in the standings and finishes her Buff career with the best stroke average for a senior 73.03 in school history.

Lauryn Keating shot a 12-over 84 to give her a 41-over 257 tournament total. She struggled in the front nine starting her morning at 8-over. She settled down a little on the back nine recording a birdie on hole No. 14 with her teammates but couldn’t keep her momentum as she finished the back nine at 4-over. Keating finished in 93^rd place.

NOTEABLE:

• Buffaloes finish with a 96-43 record
• Recorded 10 top-10 finishes in 11 events played
• CU carded eight top-5 finishes, which is the second most in school history behind the 2010-11 team when they had 10
• Esther Lee closed out her career with a 73.03 stroke average which is the lowest average by a senior golfer at CU