ROHNERT PARK, Calif. (May 6, 2015) – With an appearance in the NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championship on the line, Colorado State University-Pueblo's Leina Kim (Jr., Saipan, CNMI) rose to the challenge. The junior rolled in a birdie in a playoff against Dallas Baptist's Sydney Williams to secure the third and final individual berth in next week's championship tournament. Kim finished the 54-hole NCAA West Regional Tournament with a score of 5-over 221, landing her in a tie for third overall.
Brenna Moore of Midwestern State and Acadmey of Art's Crystal Wang tied atop the leaderboard with matching scores of 4-over 220. The duo bested Kim and two other players by just one stroke. Moore, Wang and Kim each earned berths into the championship as individuals.
Tarleton State took home the team crown with a three-day score of 29-over 893. St. Edward's (34-over 898) and tournament-host Sonoma State (38-over 902) finished in second and third, respectively, to clinch the remaining two team bids into next week's championship.
After Tuesday's round of 4-under 68, the Foxtail Golf Club played more challenging on day three for Kim. Bogeys on three out of the first four holes dropped her to 4-over for the tournament. Kim rebounded to register four pars and a bogey to close out the front nine holes at 4-over for the round and 5-over for the tournament.
Kim strung together five-straight pars to open the back nine holes, keeping her in contention for an individual bid to the championship. She helped her cause in a big way with birdies at both holes 15 and 16.
A par at No. 17 kept her at 2-over for the day and 3-over for the tournament, but a double-bogey at 18 to close out the round dropped her back to 5-over for the tournament.
The remainder of the day was a waiting game for the Saipan, CNMI, native. With players not scoring as well as the previous day, Kim's chances to at least land in a playoff for the third and final individual berth increased. Upon the conclusion of the round, Kim did indeed earn a playoff chance, going up against Williams.
The duo was sent to the par-4 10th hole for the playoff. Kim ripped her tee shot down the middle of the fairway, while Williams landed in a fairway bunker on her first shot. Williams landed her bunker shot onto the green only to see Kim place her approach shot within five feet of the hole. With both players putting for a birdie, it was Kim who rolled it in to best Williams by one stroke and earn the final bid into next week's championship tournament.
The 2015 NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championship will be held May 13-16 at The Meadows Golf Course in Allendale, Mich.
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
