UBC's Kylie Barros Captures NAIA National Crown

NUNN Chooses G&G Golf For Canadian Distribution | Home | Tee 2 Green with Barry Sharpe - May 22, 2011 UBC's Kylie Barros Captures NAIA National Crown

(May 21, 2012)
After loosing in a playoff last year, Edmonton native Kylie Barros, a sophomore at the University of British Columbia, returned to win the 2011 17th Annual National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) women's golf individual national championship Friday, becoming the 1st Canadian to get the esteemed U.

. national title.

A member of the defending champion UBC Thunderbirds, Barros shot a four-round sum of (73-74-75-75) 297 at the Link Hills Golf and Country Club in Greenville, TN to win by four 4 strokes ahead of Danielle Bellet of Dakota Wesleyan (S.D. and finished five shots in presence of 2010 champion Nathalie Silva of California Baptist.

Despite Barros' individual effort, the T-Birds could not hold their 2010 NAIA team title, finishing sixth with a team full of 1266.

California Baptist captured its first-ever NAIA Women's Golf National Championship, winning in a playoff against Embry-Riddle (Fla. after both teams finished the four round event tied at 1252. The Lancers Silva sunk the tying birdie on No. 18 to tie the Eagles at 1252 and drive the extra hole. It was the start sentence in the event's 17-year history that a playoff was needed to determine the national champion.

Shorter ranked 3rd at 1254, Oklahoma City was fourth (1255) and Lubbock Christian fifth (1265). The University of Victoria Vikes finished in a tie for 14th spot overall, shooting a team score 130 over par (334-317-323-324-1298).

"Kylie played a strong final round and earned the title today. We are all proud of her especially considering the runner-up finishes last year at the NAIA's and Golf Canada Championship," said UBC head coach Chris MacDonald. "It seems the more pressure she has on her the more she is capable to stress and love the moment, certainly characteristics of a particular athlete."

Entering the day tied with Silva, Barros pulled out from the defending champion over the second nine by notching three birdies over the last eight holes. Barros was four-over on the front nine to sit one second of Silva at the play but she took hold of the tournament with back-to-back birdies on no. 11 and no. 12. She lengthened her head with a bird on no. 15 before giving one game with a bogey on no. 16. It wouldn't matter, as the sophomore showed nerves of steal with pars on no. 17 and no. 18 to stamp the victory.

"She had a small blip at the par 5 fifth hole making double bogey 7 after almost hitting the park in two but it did not faze her she played the best nine holes of our year on the back nine. She lipped out for birdie on ten, birdied 11 after a brave approach over trees to a front pin and fashioning a fast downhill 15 foot putt. Then she hit a strong iron on the par 4 12th to make another birdie from 12 feet before addine another on the Par 5 15th hole after an incredible punch shot under trees. Her par saves at 13 and 14 kept her round going and she had birdie chances at 17 and 18 but both hung on the march of the cup," described MacDonald of Barros' final round.

UBC put together their best team performance of the week, firing a team full of 310. After struggling to break 80 all week, three T-Birds cleared that received on Friday. Barros led the way with a 75 while Haley Cameron and Janelle Samoluk fired rounds of six-over-par 79 to finish tied for 40th while Vanessa Leon's four-over-par 77 moved her into a tie for 55th. Lindsay Manion fired an 83 to stop in 89th.

UVic Sophomore Megan Woodland of Victoria tied for 14th spot overall, shooting two outstanding final round scores of three-over-par (84-77-76-76-313) and take her team. Alyssa Herkel of Mission, B.C. was the following best Vikes golfer finishing in 23rd overall (80-75-80-82-317).

CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE

NUNN Chooses G&G Golf For Canadian Distribution | Home | Tee 2 Green with Barry Sharpe - May 22, 2011

back to top