The Oregon women’s golf team now knows its destiny, and that fate reeks of Beavers.
Because of a split-regional format that took effect this year, the Ducks were unsure whether they would play in Oregon, Indiana or North Carolina for the NCAA Regional tournament.
Then lady luck shone on Oregon, when the Ducks found out Monday that they would be the No. 12 seed at the West Regional, held at Trysting Tree Golf Club in Corvallis. The tournament will take place May 10-12.
“It’s a great opportunity to play in front of our own fans and families on a course we are familiar and comfortable with,” Oregon head coach Shannon Rouillard said.
The Ducks need to place eighth or better at Regionals to make it to the NCAA Championships at Howey-on-the-Hills, Fla., May 23-26. The Ducks will have to contend with several other Pacific-10 Conference schools to make it to the NCAAs.
Second-ranked Arizona headlines the West Regional field. Number four Southern California, No. 5 Stanford, No. 7 Tennessee, No. 13 Ohio State and No. 21 Arizona State will also compete.
Rouillard said the top-ranked teams aren’t the ones the Ducks will set their sights on.
“All we have to focus on is beating the teams seeded eight through 11 to make the NCAA Championships, and only one of those teams is from the West,” Rouillard said.
The coach was speaking of No. 17 Michigan State, No. 37 Washington, No. 25 Furman and Indiana, the 8-11 seeds at the West Regional.
Rouillard said her team is confident heading into Regionals.
“This is our biggest test yet, and we’re playing our best golf at the right time of the year,” Rouillard said. “If there is one thing you can count on, it’s that Oregon always rises to the occasion.”