SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Texas Tech women’s golfer Chiara Horder shot 4-under-par 68 Sunday to force a playoff for the last advancing individual spot at the NCAA championship tournament, then lost to Clemson’s Savannah Grewal on the second extra hole.
All 30 teams in the tournament at Grayhawk Golf Club played 54 holes before the field for Monday’s fourth round was cut to 15 teams and the nine lowest-scoring individuals not on those teams.
Texas Tech finished 21st in the team standings, nine strokes outside the cut line. The Red Raiders made the turn Sunday with a two-shot lead for the 15th and final qualifying spot, but shot 11-over on the final nine holes
Grewal won a three-way playoff with Horder and Northwestern’s Jieni Li, who all finished 2-over. Grewal made birdie on the two extra holes, both played on No. 18. Li hit her second shot into the water on the first playoff hole, and Horder matched Grewal with a birdie. Grewal got up and down for birdie on her second hole to close it out.
“Today was a tough day,” Tech coach JoJo Robertson said, “because we felt we had a chance to advance. Looking at the scores this morning, we could tell that the course was playing tough. We just didn’t play well enough on the finishing holes. But I’m really proud of the team. We definitely had a chance and it was within our reach, which is disappointing.
“Chiara was outstanding today, turning in one of the lowest rounds of the day. What she did was awesome. She was nice and steady. Getting herself into the playoff and making that first birdie was incredible.”
Tech freshman Lauren Zaretsky (70-75-77) finished 6-over, tied for 65th in a field of 160. Freshman Shannon Tan (68-77-78) was 7-over, tied for 77th. Junior Gala Dumez (82-71-78) finished 15-over.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Tech’s Chiara Horder loses playoff to advance in NCAA tournament