Emily Mathews of Virginia Tech, a Mebane resident, fell just short of qualifying for the upcoming NCAA women’s championship Wednesday at the Cle Elum, Washington, regional.
Mathews shot 76 to finish the 54-hole tournament at 5-over-par 221 in a tie for 14th place. Though Tech did not advance as a team, Mathews was in position to change for the regional’s one individual qualifying spot for a player not on a qualifying team.
Mathews bogeyed her 16th and 17th holes to fall three strokes from entering a playoff. Teammate Morgan Ketchum of Winston-Salem shot 73 for a 225 total, second-best for the Hokies. Stanford won by 18 strokes, followed by Duke and Virginia.
Stanford players finished first, second, third and fifth on the way to a 17-under score. Emma McMyler of Duke was sixth at 215.
At 21-over, North Carolina placed third at the Auburn Regional to advance. UNC finished 11 behind Auburn and seven from Oregon. Kayla Smith of UNC tied for fifth at 215. Megan Streicher shot 217.
