Olivia Mehaffey finished off a successful freshman year at Arizona State University after helping the Sun Devils team to their first National Team Championship since 2009.
Royal County Down native Olivia Mehaffey finished off a successful freshman year at Arizona State University (ASU) with three wins in the NCAA Matchplay Championship to help her Sun Devils team to their first National Team Championship since 2009.
The Quarterfinals saw Arizona State defeat Florida 5-0, which included a 5&4 win for Mehaffey over Samantha Wagner. In an event which was disrupted due to weather conditions, the semi-finals were suspended due to darkness after yet another rain delay. A
s it stood, Arizona were on the brink of bowing out of the NCAA National Finals despite another win for Olivia against world ranked number 8 Andrea Lee. However, when play resumed the next morning at 9am, NCAA Individual Champion Monica Vaughn and Swede Linnea Strom began their comeback. With a birdie on 18, Vaughn forced the match vs. Swiss Olympian Albane Valenzuela and left the match at 2 – 2 when she closed the match on the 19th. Strom duly followed her teammate and also won on the 19th when Stanford’s Madeline Chou missed the green and failed to get up and down – sending Arizona to the Championship Match.
Illinois Northwestern University overcame University of Southern California (USC) to set up an afternoon dual with ASU. Again, Olivia led her team out and after being 5up through 7 holes she defeated Sarah Cho 4&3.
Mehaffey, commented after the win, “I don’t even know what to say but wow! I feel so lucky to be part of the Sun Devil family and get to compete for my dream school. Today has been one of the best days of my life and I’m so proud to see our dream of winning a National Championship come true, hard work pays off!”
She also gave special thanks to the ASU Men’s team for their support on the final day, they have also qualified for the Men’s NCAA Division 1 Nationals which begins on Friday 26th at Rich Harvest Farms.
Mehaffey will now return home to Co. Down for the summer for a busy schedule which includes a trip to Italy for the Vagliano Trophy and to Portugal to represent Ireland at the European Team Championships in July.
Credit- ILGU
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