Athletics & Recreation / Magazine Feature

Pioneers women’s golf team earns its first NCAA Championships berth

The University of Denver women’s golf team made program history on May 12, finishing in fourth place at the NCAA West Regional and earning the program’s first entrance in the NCAA National Championships May 22–25 in Daytona Beach, Fla. 

Senior Emily Hoeper shot 69, sophomore Dawn Shockley shot 71, freshman Stephanie Sherlock shot 72, sophomore Katie Kempter shot 74 and sophomore Sara Djos shot 77 for a team score of 286.

“I’m just so proud of our players. We didn’t play particularly well the first two days but they showed up today ready to play,” Head Coach Sammie Chergo said on Saturday. “We’re very excited for the opportunity to represent DU at Nationals.”

Leading the way for Denver was Sherlock, who shot a final-round 1-over par 72 Saturday to finish the tournament with a 54-hole score of 218 (1-over par) in a tie for 10th place. 

Next for DU was Kempter, who turned in a 3-over par 74 in the final round to finish in a tie for 17th place with a 54-hole score of 223 (10-over par). Kempter started the second round in a tie for 50th, but her round of 72 was DU’s best score Friday by four shots.

The round of the day Saturday was turned by Hoeper, who shot a 2-under par 69 that was DU’s round of the tournament. Hoeper started the day in a tie for 59th place, but moved all the way to finish the tournament in a tie for 28th place with a 54-hole score of 226 (+13).

Shockley shot an even-par 71 and finished the tournament in a tie for 44th place. She finished at 16-over par 229. Sophomore Sara Djos shot a final round 77 and tied for 48th.

Follow the team’s progress via live scoring on www.golfstat.com and look for interviews and stories onwww.golfweek.com and www.denverpioneers.com.

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