Racers Save Best For Last At NCAA - Folke Plays Final MSU Round

Monday, May 7

Madison, Wisc.

Murray State

NCAA Championship

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

Racers Save Best For Last At NCAA - Folke Plays Final MSU Round

5/9/2018 4:55:00 PM | Women's Golf

Final Results I Photo Gallery

The Murray State Racers finished play at the NCAA Women's Golf Championship at University Ridge Golf Course in Madison, Wisconsin. 36825

In seeing NCAA action for a second consecutive season, the Racers were seeded No. 16 and finished 16^th on scores of 307-302-303=912. The final round 303 was MSU's best round of the event when considering the wind and rain they played in for most of the final round. MSU's 912 bested their 2017 school and Ohio Valley Conference record of 916 in Lubbock, Texas. MSU placed ahead of 17^th place North Dakota State (926) and 18^th place IUPUI (928) and just behind 15^th place Idaho (905).

Anna Moore led the way for the Racers with a spot in 47^th place on scores of 73-75-73=221, while Moa Folke was 77^th on rounds of 77-77-77=231. Lucila Puente Rodriguez posted scores of 82-75-75=232 and had a spot in 80^th place, while Linette Holmslykke and Raeshya Surendran shared 86^th place. Holmslykke had scores of 77-80-78=235 and Surendran had scores of 80-75-80=235.

The day capped off another banner season for Racer head coach Velvet Milkman and her MSU program with its 11^th OVC championship and fifth appearance in the NCAA Championship, all in the 25 seasons the Racers have been competing since Milkman launched the women's golf program in the fall of 1993.

"Anytime you're one of the 72 teams (that make the NCAA Championship) it's a good thing and it makes you better hopefully going into the next season," Milkman said. "I thought we represented Murray State and the OVC very well. I think our 303 today was an exceptional score in bad weather. We just got off to a slow start on Monday and when you're competing with the best teams in the nation and that's something you can't do and we've got to get better at."

Wednesday's final round marked the end of the amazing collegiate career of Moa Folke, a Murray State senior from Tranas, Sweden. The 2017 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year, Folke leaves MSU as a four-time All-OVC selection and the winner of a pair of OVC individual tournament titles in 2016 and 2017.

"She's one of the best to ever come through our program and one of the hardest workers I have ever coached," Milkman said. "I appreciate all she has done for us and really, she elevated our program." The comparison was made that Folke did for MSU women's golf what Isaiah Canaan did for MSU men's basketball from 2009-13 and Milkman agreed. "Yes, you're spot on there," Milkman said. "She has absolutely taken it to the next level (as Isaiah did in basketball) and we're thankful for that and will always remember her for that. She's going to do great things in her life and her career."

The top-6 teams punched their ticket to the NCAA finals as Duke (850), Virginia (859) and USC (862) made up the top-3. After Arizona State and Ohio State shared fourth place at 863, there was one more spot that would be decided between Northwestern, Illinois and Oregon State. Northwestern grabbed the sixth and final spot to advance after a 287 in the final round to edge out Illinois 864-866.

The final round of the Madison Regional was pushed to an 8:30 a.m. shot gun start after overnight thunderstorms and a cold front rolled through southern Wisconsin. The Racers started their round in a steady rain and for the first 12 holes of their round, the weather worsened. The players were often hitting into strong winds and in periods of heavy rain. The weather cleared for the final six holes and the event finished about an hour before another round of storms came through the region.

The University Ridge GC played to a par of 72 and a length of 6,313 yards.

2018 NCAA Women's Golf Championship
University Ridge GC – Madison, Wisc.
Final Results
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16 Murray State 307 302 303 912
T47 Anna Moore (3) 73 75 73 221
T77 Moa Folke (1) 77 77 77 231
T80 Lucila Puente Rodriguez (2) 82 75 75 232
T86 Linette Holmslykke (4) 77 80 78 235
T86 Raeysha Surendran (5) 80 75 80 235

Team Scores
1 Duke 283 279 288 850 -14
2 Virginia 279 291 289 859 -5
3 Southern California 285 288 289 862 -2
T4 Arizona State 288 286 289 863 -1
T4 Ohio State 293 284 286 863 -1
6 Northwestern 294 283 287 864 E
7 Illinois 292 285 289 866 +2
8 Oregon State 289 285 294 868 +4
9 Wisconsin 290 293 291 874 +10
10 Iowa State 295 286 297 878 +14
11 Purdue 298 286 296 880 +16
12 Notre Dame 299 297 290 886 +22
13 Campbell 298 290 299 887 +23
T14 Old Dominion 295 295 315 905 +41
T14 Idaho 306 297 302 905 +41
16 Murray State 307 302 303 912 +48
17 North Dakota State 315 298 313 926 +62
18 IUPUI 313 307 308 928 +64