SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Stanford women advanced to the semifinals of the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship with a special fan watching outside the ropes.
Former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who currently serves as the director of the Hoover Institution at Stanford and is also a faculty fellow and academic advisor for the women’s golf team, made the trip to Grayhawk Golf Club to cheer on the Cardinal in their Tuesday morning match against Georgia.
“It means a great deal to me, I just love these intercollegiate athletes,” said Rice on the importance of supporting the team. “They work so hard in the classroom, they work so hard on the course. I just want to be out here to support them.”
Supporting the team is great fun, sure, but the nearly 10-year member at Augusta National Golf Club would still like to be playing instead of watching.
“Well, it does make me want to go play golf, but I shouldn’t even think that I’m gonna look like that,” said Rice with a laugh.
Last year’s individual national champion Rachel Heck put the first point on the board for Stanford with a 2 up win over Georgia’s Jenny Bae, and was later joined by Aline Krauter, who defeated LoraLie Cowart, 2 and 1, and Brooke Seay, who beat Jo Hua Hung, 3 and 2.
ANNIKA Award winner Rose Zhang, who claimed the individual national title Monday afternoon, didn’t get a chance to square her match against Candice Mahe as the team competition was already decided before she was able to putt on the 18th green. Caterina Don earned the other point for the Bulldogs with a 3-and-1 win over Sadie Englemann.
“This is a wonderful team and I think they would both tell you that it’s the support of their teammates that’s so great,” said Rice of Stanford’s young stars Zhang and Heck. “Rose is incredibly accomplished and a very nice young woman and Rachel as well, so it was fun to go back to back and we’re gonna go try to get ready for this afternoon.”
Stanford, the No. 1 seed, squares off against No. 5 Auburn in Tuesday afternoon’s semifinal match.
