The No. 13 DU women’s golf team shot an 11-over par 299 to finish in fifth place overall at the 2009 NCAA women’s golf championship at the Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Md. DU’s fifth place finish marks the highest finish by a Pioneer women’s golf team at the NCAA championships.
The Pioneers were led on the fourth day of competition by senior Katie Kempter, of Albuquerque, N.M., who shot a 2-over par 74 to finish with a 16-over par 304 for the tournament. Junior Stephanie Sherlock or Barrie, Ont., shot a 3-over par 75, adding to her total of 9-over par 297 to finish tied for 11th place overall.
“I could not be more proud of this group of Pioneers,” said head coach Sammie Chergo. “Our seniors were spectacular throughout the last four days and we are really going to miss them as they move on. From the time they were freshman, these seniors set the standard of what it meant to be competitive and tough and our team next year will be all the more better for it.”
Freshman Sarah Faller of Galway, Ireland, and senior Dawn Shockley of Estes Park, Colo., also shot 3-over par rounds of 75 in the final round, and sophomore Ellie Givens of Darlington, England shot a 4-over par 76 to round out the scoring for Denver.
“We got off to a very fast start on the first day and then struggled in rounds two and three, which made playing well today even more important,” Chergo said. “Our goal was to finish higher than we did last season, which we accomplished with a great fifth place finish. Our entire team contributed and we as a coaching staff couldn’t be happier.”
Earning her third All-America honor, Sherlock was named as a second team selection, while also grabbing an All-East Region honor along with Shockley and Kempter.
Last season, the Pioneers finished in sixth place at their second consecutive NCAA Championship appearance.