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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Cameron Jourdan

NCAA Women’s golf regionals: LSU in danger; three spots up for grabs in Athens and more from Tuesday

College golf’s championship season rolls on to regionals this week, with the women first to play.

The six regional championship sites feature 12 teams and six individuals (72 teams and 36 individuals, total), with play began Monday, May 8 and ends Wednesday, May 10. The top five teams (30 total) and the top individual (6 total) not on a qualifying team from each regional will advance to the national championship at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, May 19-24.

Below you’ll find a recap, as well as a breakdown of what to watch for Wednesday from each regional as the first round continues at all six sites.

Golfweek/Sagarin RankingsWomen’s team | Women’s individual
Golfstat leaderboardsScores from all six regionals

Athens regional

Team leader: Georgia (15-under 561)

Individual leader: Jenny Bae, Georgia (8-under 136)

The hook: Georgia continues to dominate at home, increasing its lead to 10 shots. The Bulldogs and South Carolina are the only teams under par and seem safe to clinch a spot at nationals. However, the three-way tie for fifth at 15 over, with 11th seed Augusta looking to play spoiler, should be exciting come Wednesday. Additionally, Charleston’s Viktoria Hund made an ace on the 13th hole, playing at 159 yards.

If the cut were today: 1. Georgia; 2. South Carolina; 3. San Jose State; 4. Maryland; T-5. Augusta, Ohio State, Ole Miss

What to watch for Wednesday: The top three spots seem plenty secure, however, there are seven teams within nine shots of the final two spots. Can Ohio State and Ole Miss finish strong, or will Maryland and Augusta play their way in?

Palm Beach regional

Team leader: Michigan State (5-over 581)

Individual leader: Sara Byrne, Miami (4-under 140)

The hook: Third-seeded Northwestern made a big move Tuesday, moving six spots up the leaderboard after shooting 4 under, the only team to get under par in the second round. 10th-seeded South Florida remains inside the number, but top-seeded LSU needs a big round Wednesday, sitting five shots outside the cutline.

If the cut were today: 1. Michigan State; 2. Northwestern; 3. Duke, T-4. South Florida, Texas

What to watch for Wednesday: LSU needs a big round from Ingrid Lindblad, Latanna Stone and others come Wednesday to avoid missing nationals. With plenty of strong teams in front of them, the Tigers will need some help, but they’re capable of making a push.

Pullman regional

Team leader: Stanford (35-under 541)

Individual leader: Rose Zhang (12-under 132)

The hook: The defending national champs and defending individual champion are on a roll. Barring a huge collapse, Stanford is well on its way to a regional title, and Roze Zhang is leading with 18 holes to play. With a win, it would be her 11th career victory and seventh of the season.

If the cut were today: 1. Stanford; 2. Texas Tech; 3. Clemson; 4. USC; 5. Baylor

What to watch for Wednesday: Baylor holds a four-shot lead over Sacramento State for the final spot at nationals, and the next closest team is 11 strokes behind. Unless one of the top teams falters and the chasers rise, the five on top could look the same after the third round.

Raleigh regional

Team leader: N.C. State (6-under 570)

Individual leader: Dorota Zalewska, Chattanooga (9-under 135)

The hook: Top-seeded Wake Forest, ranked No. 1 in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings, moved four spots up the leaderboard and into third after shooting 3 under, the only team to break par in the second round. Meanwhile, Florida State fell four spots and outside the cut line after an 8-over round.

If the cut were today: 1. N.C. State; 2. Arizona State; 3. Wake Forest; T-4. Arizona, Purdue

What to watch for Wednesday: With the top two spots seemingly locked up only six shots separate third and eighth. Florida State, TCU and Florida find themselves outside the cutline with 18 holes to play, but there’s plenty left to be decided with a trip to nationals up for grabs.

San Antonio regional

Team leader: Texas A&M (5-over 581)

Individual leader: Camryn Carreon (6-under 138)

The hook: Of all the regionals, this is the only one with the five top-seeded teams inside the top five with 18 holes to play. Sixth-seeded UCLA dropped four spots and is nine shots back of fifth-place Auburn, and the Tigers have a five-shot lead over Denver in sixth.

If the cut were today: 1. Texas A&M, 2. SMU, 3. Oklahoma State; 4. Pepperdine; 5. Auburn

What to watch for Wednesday: Considering the standings, there’s chance the top five remains the same after Wednesday. However, the final couple of spots could be up for grabs if Pepperdine or Auburn struggles.

Westfield regional

Team leader: Mississippi State (21-under 555)

Individual leader: Julia Lopez Ramirez, Mississippi State (11-under 133)

The hook: Mississippi State and ninth-seeded Oregon State continued their strong play, and they seem near locks to advance to Grayhawk. However, five stroke separate the next five teams, with Xavier and Iowa State are tied for sixth and three shots behind the cut. Meanwhile, second-seeded Oregon, the defending national runners-up, is 14 shots behind the cut and needs a huge comeback.

If the cut were today: 1. Mississippi State; 2. Oregon State; 3. Vanderbilt; T-4. Virginia, Tulsa

What to watch for Wednesday: With Oregon so far behind, that might leave just one spot open for a lower-seeded team to sneak in, but there’s likely five teams vying for three spots.

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