May 9, 2018
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Final Results
SAN FRANCISCO - Competing alongside one another throughout Wednesday's third round at the San Francisco Regional, sophomore managerial economics major Christine Danielsson and junior sociology major Samantha Hutchison each ended their first-ever postseason experience shooting par or better on their final two holes before posting respective round scores of 2-over (74) and 5-over (77) for the day at TPC Harding Park.
Each teed off on the 10th hole and recorded a birdie on hole 8; Danielsson's tee shot found the left side of the green with Hutchison's coming to a rest on the opposite side. Even though each player's first shot landed in different locations, both putts found the bottom of the cup, which led to a 2 on the par 3 180-yard hole.
On their final hole of the tournament, Danielsson took an opening shot that landed left of the fairway and punched her ball to the front of the 9th green, which ultimately led to the last of her four birdies earned throughout the afternoon.
Hutchison's first shot, which rolled to a stop in the middle of the fairway, led to a tap-in for par and a hug from her teammate to end a memorable visit to the par 72 6,369-yard course.
"It took a couple holes to adjust, especially if one of us hit a great shot and the other didn't. But I enjoyed this opportunity because she helped me manage my emotions and was there to pump me up when I needed it," said Danielsson about playing alongside her teammate.
During the Regional's first two days, UC Davis' student-athletes -- each needed to complete midterms in addition to participating in the NCAA playoffs; Hutchison worked on a paper and Danielsson took an exam -- competed in separate groups with four other individuals that also received invitations.
"More than anything, I felt comfortable. Coach always tells us to have fun out on the course, and Christine made today a fun experience," Hutchison added.
For the tournament, Hutchison tied for 68th with an 11-over (227) with Danielsson finishing 85th at 17-over (233).
Danielsson opened her day with a birdie on the 10th hole, followed by a chip-in on 17 from one side of the green to the other.
"These two deserve to compete here based on the quality of their play all season long. This was a great experience for Christine and Samantha," said head coach Anna Temple.
"An event like this shows us what we need to work on to raise our game to another level. Now that we know what it takes to get here, we all need to improve our game because this will be a lot more fun when we compete as a team," added Danielsson.
With Hutchison as the team's lone upperclassmen, every member from this year's roster will return next season.
"I'm fired up now, I cannot wait to play throughout the summer to help this team earn a top 50 ranking heading into next spring's tournaments. I cannot wait to play," Hutchison said.
Advancing to the NCAA Women's Golf Championship, taking place in Stillwater, Oklahoma, later this month are Stanford, UCLA, Ole Miss, Louisville, Kent State and Colorado. As the top finishers from teams outside of the ones previously mentioned, Marthe Would (Cal), Hira Naveed (Pepperdine) and Emma Bronze (Oklahoma State) punched their tickets to the national championship.
ABOUT UC DAVIS WOMEN'S GOLF
Since the 2005-06 season, its first as an intercollegiate program at UC Davis, women's golf quickly earned a reputation as one of the most successful teams in the Big West Conference. In addition to its six NCAA Championship appearances as a team or individual, the Aggies advanced to the NCAA Regionals every year since 2008.
In its brief history at the Division I level, the program won six Big West championships and boasts an honor roll that ranks among the best in the nation with four All-American scholars, three All-Americans, seven Big West Players of the Year and five Big West Freshmen of the Year.
ABOUT UC DAVIS
Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley.
The No. 6-ranked public university in the nation, according to the Wall Street Journal, offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and plant and animal programs.
