Stanford Heads to Title Match

CARLSBAD, Calif. — After beating Auburn earlier in the day, top-seeded Stanford women’s golf earned the right to take on USC in a rematch of last year’s semifinal match. The Trojans were winners in 2023, but the Cardinal got the best of USC one year later, winning 3-1 in thrilling fashion late to advance to the NCAA title match.
 
Kelly Xu was a hero all day for Stanford, securing both winning points on the 16^th green. Her back nine against Catherine Park of USC was incredible, as she began trailing by one but eventually put herself in position to win on 16. Xu knocked down the winning putt and was immediately mobbed by her teammates, capping off a run of winning four of the final six holes.
 

.@StanfordWGolf was HYPED after Kelly Xu’s putt to send them to the national championship. #NCAAGolf pic.twitter.com/aUbwzs9VJo

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) May 22, 2024

 
The Stanford clincher by Xu was made possible by Megha Ganne winning moments earlier on 17. She hit a birdie putt on 17 to beat Brianna Navarrosa 2&1, another impressive win considering where she was a few holes prior. Ganne was down one heading to 15, and then won three-straight holes to close out the match and earn the second point for Stanford.
 
After winning a playoff hole against Auburn, Sadie Englemann made things a bit easier this time around against the Trojans and Cindy Kou. She never trailed after winning the second hole, eventually winning 13 with a long birdie putt to win 6&5. Englemann made multiple long-distance birdie putts in her round, including a similarly impressive one on 10 where she was on the fringe of the green.
 
Rachel Heck fell in her match, losing 2&1 to Amari Avery, which at the time tied it up at 1-1 overall. Paula Martin Sampedro and Bailey Shoemaker were on the 18^th green tied when the match was clinched by the Cardinal.
 
Match Play Results: Stanford 3, USC 1
Amari Avery (USC) def. Rachel Heck (STAN), 2&1
Sadie Englemann (STAN) def. Cindy Kou (USC), 6&5
Paula Martin Sampedro (STAN) and Baliey Shoemaker (USC), unfinished
Megha Ganne (STAN) def. Brianna Navarrosa (USC), 2&1
Kelly Xu (STAN) def. Catherine Park (USC), 3&2
 
It will be an all-Pac-12 NCAA Championship match as the Cardinal square off against the UCLA Bruins on Wednesday. The title match begins at 2:15 pm. Fans can tune into live coverage for the title match on Golf Channel.
 
The matchups will be Paula Martin Sampedro/Caroline Canales, Kelly Xu/Meghan Royal, Megha Ganne/Natalie Vo,