COLUMBUS, Ohio (UNLVRebels.com) – It was survival of the fittest at the NCAA Columbus Regional hosted by Ohio State. And the UNLV women’s golf team certainly fit that bill.

The seventh-seeded Rebels withstood challenging playing conditions throughout, finishing fourth after carding a final-round 1-under to keep their season alive and advance to the NCAA Championships Wednesday at the Ohio State University Golf Club Scarlet Course (Par 72, 6,319 yards). In doing so, they will now be making the program’s fifth trip to the national championship – and first since 2015 – when they compete at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California, starting May 16.

FINAL-ROUND FINISH: With its cushion above the fifth-place cut threshold dwindling down to single digits at times, the Scarlet & Gray solidified its position well above that by 14 shots after making 10 of the squad’s 21 birdies for the day across the final five holes. Counting toward the round’s final scorecard were three Rebel seniors, Toa Yokoyoma at 2-under 70, Hina Matsui and Mayumi Umezu each at even-par 72, along with sophomore Zi Yu Foong at 1-over 73. Senior McKenzi Hall finished close behind her counterparts at 2-over 74.

REBEL ROUNDUP: Leading the UNLV lineup that had all five players finish inside the top 25, Yokoyama had a career-best regional finish of fourth place at 3-under 213 for the 54-hole event. Joining her in the top 25, Umezu (+2) tied for 14th, Hall (+4) notched a career-best tied-for-18th regional finish, followed by Matsui (+5) – who also had a career-best regional outing – and Foong each in a tie for 21st (+5).

FINAL LEADERBOARD: Kansas surged on the final 18 holes of the three-day regional for the victory at 6-under 854. Following KU for the remaining championship tickets were Arkansas (-3) in second, the Buckeyes (+1) in third, the Rebels at 4-over 868 and then LSU as the next nearest competitor in fifth at 18-over 882. KU’s Lyla Louderbough won the individual regional title at 12-under 204.

QUOTABLE: “This adds another highlight to our year. These seniors and this group have been absolutely incredible day in and day out. They’ve worked so hard for this. We came in here and fought really tough conditions. But the team just kept on fighting to earn this and now we’re going to the national championship!”
-UNLV Head Coach Amy Bush-Herzer

UP NEXT: UNLV will next travel to California for the big dance set to begin a week from Friday.

NOTES:

  • This was Yokoyama’s third time, while it marked Hall’s and Matsui’s second time playing in an NCAA Regional during their four-year Rebel careers. Additionally, Umezu and Foong both made their regional debuts in Columbus.
  • Yokoyama was just one of six players to shoot under par for the entire event at OSU Golf Club.
  • By way of the fourth-place performance, UNLV increased its top-5 finish count to eight during the 2024-25 campaign. That bunch includes seven top-2 finishes and wins at the Mountain West Championship and Denver’s Ron Moore Intercollegiate.
  • In her 14th year at the helm of the UNLV women’s golf program, head coach Amy Bush-Herzer now leads her team to the NCAA Championship for the second time during her tenure.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Print Friendly Version