BU women's golf coach Bruce Chalas surveyed the NCAA Division 1 Regional scoreboard over the final nine holes at Vanderbilt’s Legends Club on Wednesday. No, his team, which would eventually finish 11th, would not be one of the four squads to advance to the NCAA championship. But two things jumped out at him.
First, his team, on an overall basis, was hanging tough with big names from women’s college golf, the likes of 27th-ranked Oregon State, 41st-ranked Brigham Young and 45th-ranked Kent State, who all finished just ahead of BU in the draw. The BU women, the team with the 600 square foot indoor facility, were doing the Patriot League proud by running through the tape over the final nine holes of the 54-hole tournament.
Christy Chen powered through with a 2-under finish over her last eight holes. Hanako Kawasaki fashioned an even-par finish for her final five holes. Even BU’s crucial fourth player, Victoria Takai, parred her final seven holes when it mattered most. Good stuff, all. Coming through when it mattered the most. Doing what you needed to do.
“We had great fun” Chalas said. “It was very satisfying to accomplish what we did. Our program is definitely headed in the right direction. The whole year was tremendously worthwhile. We dramatically increased our storyline. People know BU women’s golf now. Team mission accomplished.”