Boyd’s Bid For NCAA Advancement Goes Down To Final Hole

Despite the second lowest, 54-hole score in program history, Washington’s Camille Boyd came just one stroke short of earning a berth in the NCAA Championships Wednesday at the NCAA Pullman Regional at Palouse Ridge Golf Club.
 
Boyd, a junior from Yorba Linda, Calif., carded a 4-under 68 on Wednesday to finish the three-day tournament with a 13-under total of 203, one stroke shy of her school-record 14-under, set in 2022. She finished the NCAA Regional in a tie for fourth place on the individual leaderboard.
 
Needing to finish as the low individual not on an advancing team to earn a spot at the national championships, Boyd went toe-to-toe with UC Riverside’s Tiffany Le the entire third round for that spot.
 
Playing in the same threesome as Boyd, Le chipped in for eagle on the par-5 18th hole to win, after Boyd had birdied the final hole. Le finished 6-under for the round and 14-under for the tournament, good for a tie for second place overall.
 
After heading into the day with a one-stroke advantage over Le, Boyd finished the front nine at one-under, while Le had pulled even with a two-under, front-nine total.
 
On the back nine, the two went stroke for stroke. Both made par on the first five holes before matching birdies on the par-4 15th. Boyd and Le then both made par on No. 16 before birdie 4s on the 17th, keeping them deadlocked at 12-under.
 
With a possible playoff looming, Le’s eagle chip on the final hole ended the drama.
 
UW junior Stefanie Deng, who was also playing as an individual, carded a 1-under 71 in the third round to finish with a 3-under 213, tying her for 23rd place.
 
“What a brutal way to lose by one, with the other player chipping in for eagle on 18,” commented UW head coach Mary Lou Mulflur. “I’m really proud of both players. It’s a good springboard into next season.”