Colorado Christian’s Faith Kilgore tied for lead at women’s NCAA DII nationals; Coloradan Lauren Lehigh makes up ground in DI regional
By Gary Baines – 5/10/2022
Faith Kilgore of Colorado Christian University shares the individual lead after Tuesday’s opening round of the women’s NCAA Division II national championship, while Coloradan Lauren Lehigh, competing for New Mexico, is tied for 12th place at the halfway point of the Division I Regional in Albuquerque.
Kilgore, who recently won an NCAA regional title and is ranked No. 4 in the country in women’s Division II, shot a 3-under-par 69 on Tuesday in Gainesville, Ga., making four birdies and a bogey on the day. She’s tied for the top spot out of the 98-player field with Alex Naumovski of Lee University and Anahi Servin of the Academy of Art.
Kilgore, winner of three individual titles since mid-March, is playing in her final tournament for CCU. Next season, she’ll be a graduate transfer, competing for the University of Texas.
As a team, Colorado Christian stands in sixth place in the 18-team field with a 13-over-par 301 total. Anderson (S.C.) leads the way at 295.
Meanwhile, Lehigh kept her hopes alive for earning a berth in the DI national championship. The two-time Colorado girls state high school individual champion has posted scores of 74-71, leaving her in 12th place at 145 in the Albuquerque Regional.
If Lehigh finishes in the top two individuals not on a qualifying team, she will earn a spot in the women’s NCAA DI national championship. Going into the final round, she’s in fifth place individually among players not on a team in a qualifying spot.
Also with a very realistic shot at advancing to nationals is Coloradan Ashley Kozlowski. Kozlowski, who shares 40th place individually in the Stanford Regional, plays for Purdue, which shares fourth place at the site with Northwestern. The top four teams from reach regional after three rounds will be headed to nationals.
WOMEN’S NCAA DIV. I REGIONALS
(Monday through Wednesday)
Tallahassee, Fla., Regional
10. (Top 4 out of 12 teams will advance) Denver 312-302—614
36. Coloradan Emma Bryant 76-77—153
40. Anna Zanusso 82-72–154
40. Alyson Bean 75-79–154
40. Clara Gestsdottir 80-74–154
62. Anna Krekling 81-80–161
Albuquerque Regional
12. Coloradan Lauren Lehigh, New Mexico, 74-71–145
Stanford, Calif. Regional
40. Coloradan Ashley Kozłowski, Purdue 74-76–150
Franklin, Tenn. Regional
51. Coloradan Kelsey Webster, Oregon State 77-77—154
WOMEN’S NCAA DIVISION II NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Tuesday Through Saturday in Gainesville, Ga.
6. Colorado Christian 301
1. Faith Kilgore 69
8. Emily Donaldson 72
56. Kiersten Bryant 78
89. Courtney Andersson 82
98. Emily Doeden 87
About the Writer: Gary Baines has covered golf in Colorado continuously since 1983. He was a sports writer at the Daily Camera newspaper in Boulder, then the sports editor there, and has written regularly for ColoradoGolf.org since 2009. He was voted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame in 2021. Email: ColoradoGolfJournal@mac.com)
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