SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Kennedy Swann and Andrea Lignell completed perfect weeks as Ole Miss overwhelmed Oklahoma State 4-1 to win the NCAA Women’s Championship on Wednesday, the Rebels’ first national title in women’s sports.
Chiarra Tamburlini set the tone at Grayhawk Golf Club with a 6-and-5 victory, the largest margin in the final round since the NCAA switched to match play in 2015.
The key was Swann and Lignell, in the leadoff matches, where they delivered their best golf against Oklahoma State’s best two players.
Swann won three straight holes to take a 3-up lead to the back nine against Maja Stark, the highest-ranked player in the final at No. 7 in the women’s world amateur ranking.
Stark holed a long birdie putt on the 11 and pulled within 1 down. She drove the reachable par-4 17th to just left of the green, while Swann’s iron off tee didn’t quite clear the rough. No matter. Swann hit a wedge that rolled out to a foot for a conceded birdie, and Stark missed her 6-foot birdie putt to extend the match.
Behind her, Lignell rallied from an early deficit to take her first lead on the 13th hole over Isabella Fierro, who had not trailed all week. Lignell then had Fierro putt from 2 feet on the next hole, and Fierro missed to fall 2 down.
Lignell holed the winning putt from 6 feet for par on the 17th hole for a 2-and-1 victory, and the celebration was on.
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