May 13, 2006
Complete Results
ALLENDALE, Mich. - Western Washington University senior Katja Trygg (Bainbridge Island) closed out a brilliant four-year career by placing fifth in medalist play at the NCAA Division II Women's Golf National Championship which ended Saturday at The Meadows.
Trygg's finish is the highest by a Viking player at nationals. The previous best was 10th accomplished on three occasions.
Western was fifth in the team standings for the third straight year. Trygg fired a 2-over par 74 to end the tournament, which began Wednesday, with a 54-hole total of 230. In her closing round, she had two birdies, four bogeys and 12 pars.
"That was pretty impressive," said Western coach Bo Stephan. "It was a tough day to shoot 74 and she did that even with a rocky finish, bogeying the last two holes."
A two-time first-team National Golf Coaches Association All-American and twice a West Region all-star, Trygg was tied for 11th after shooting a first-round 76 and entered the final round tied for seventh following an 80 in terrible weather conditions Friday.
It was the third national appearance for Trygg, who tied for 15th last year and was 16th in 2004. She was a medalist eight times at regular-season tournaments.
"I think I played pretty well," said Trygg. "I was a lot calmer than I thought that I'd be. I definitely got a little nervous toward the end and I would have liked to have finished a little stronger than I did ... There was definitely a lot of emotion after finishing."
The Vikings edged out West Region champion Western New Mexico for fifth place by three strokes. Western, which had finished second by five strokes to the Mustangs at regionals, were tied with them after the first round and ahead by just one stroke entering Saturday's play.
"It was a little disappointing as we had our sights set on fourth," Stephan said. "The conditions weren't good today, but they were better. I was happy that in pretty similar conditions to yesterday that they handled themselves much better ... It's really a test of survival."
Western shot a final-round 319 for a 967 total with Western New Mexico sixth at 970 (321).
Rollins FL won its fourth straight national title, but not in the same dominating fashion as the first three. The Tars, who shot a tourney-low 297 in the first round, finished with a six-stroke advantage at 919 over runner-up Ferris State MI (300=925). Lynn FL was a distant third (315=951) and Grand Valley State fourth (319=963).
Rounding out the eight-team field were Nebraska-Omaha (317=977) and Minnesota State, Mankato (347=1004).
Western senior Candice Wagner (Milton/Fife) tied for 19th at 239, shooting a final-round 79, and junior Katie Bender (Tacoma/Bellarmine Prep) tied for 32nd at 247 (84). Two Viking sophomores, Allison Gillette (So., Seattle/Ballard) and Catherine Kim (So., Bellevue/Skyline) tied for 41st at 253 (84) and placed 47th at 261 (82), respectively.
"I was really proud of Katja and Candice because they knew it was their last round and they handled themselves like mature seniors do," said Stephan.
Rollins had all four of its counting scores place among the top 10, led by medalist Mariana De Biase, who shot even par 72 to finish at 4-over 220. That was one stroke better than Florida Southern's Lindsey Bergeon (73=221). Two Ferris State players, Casey McKinnon (77) and Elena Robles (74) tied for third place at 226.
