Paced by All-SEC golfer, Ally McDonald, the Mississippi State Women's Golf team posted a third place finish Saturday in the NCAA Central Regional to book a return trip to the NCAA Championships, starting May 20 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Tough playing conditions dominated the day, but the Bulldogs posted the second lowest round of Saturday's play at 9-over-par. With the round on the line, Mississippi State played the back nine at 3-under-par.
McDonald, who posted the best round of the day with a 2-under-par, 70, led the charge on the back nine with birdies on 13, 14, and 15. She finished the tournament at 1-under-par (215), which gave her a fourth place finish, her fifth top-five finish.
Jessica Peng, who finished the tournament at nine-over-par, improved her play by seven shots from the front nine to back nine on Saturday. Rica Tse played the back nine at one-under-par to help with the Bulldog charge.
No. 3 UCLA won the regional by 17 shots, posting an eleven-over-par score of 875. No. 9 Alabama finished second with 28-over-par score of 892. The No. 33 Bulldogs shot a 29-over-par score of 893.