Spring Break
Spartan women's golf team tees off at NCAA west regionals today
Kristina Mendoza, Daily Staff Writer
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The Spartans, who are ranked No. 42 out of the 63 teams competing in postseason, are seeded No. 12 in the west regional tournament that gets underway today at the Karsten Golf Course in Tempe, Ariz.
"We're anxious to get back," said John Dormann, associate head golf coach for SJSU.
Nancy Lewis, SJSU's director of golf, said that although the team finished third at the Western Athletic Conference tournament, behind the University of Tulsa and the University of Nevada-Reno, she is still pleased to see her team earn a spot at the regional.
"I'm very excited they made it to regional championships," she said. "I think they'll do quite well. I really do."
Of the seven girls on the roster - freshmen Lindsey Marino, Lani Wong, Carling Cho and Carmina Calle, and sophomores Tai Kinney, Nicole Deacon and junior Ashley Gomes - Dormann said he and Lewis could only select five to compete today.
These five golfers sent to the regionals are Cho, Calle, Kinney, Deacon and Gomes.
"Out of the five women competing, two have been to regionals before," Lewis said.
"The one key thing is we're so young," Dorman said of three players who have never competed in regionals before.
Because of this, Dormann said he didn't know how a young player would react.
Following the three days of regionals, cumulative scores will be totaled.
SJSU must place in the top eight to advance on to the NCAA championships in West Lafayette, Ind., beginning on May 20.
Last year, SJSU placed 11th at regionals and could not advance to the championships.
This year's top player is Gomes, who has improved this season to lead the Spartans with a 76.83 average.
Overall, Lewis said she is happy her team will have this experience.
"I'm very excited at the opportunity we have earned."
Dormann agreed and hopes for the best and to go to theNCAAs.
The team last qualified for the NCAAs in 2001 and placed 17th.
"Hopefully they've gained enough experience to let their talents take over,"
Dormann said. "I think we have a very good chance to make it."
Three top seeded teams are Pepperdine University, the University of Southern California and Oklahoma State University.
"When it comes to whatever you did before this, it is irrelevant," Lewis said, whose program began practice since August.
