Arizona women’s golf advances to NCAA Championships

The defending champs are moving on.

The Arizona women’s golf team finished second in the East Lansing Regional on Wednesday, punching its ticket to NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas starting on May 17.

The Wildcats shot three-under-par, one stroke behind Kent State. The top six teams in a regional advance.

Yu-Sang Hou led Arizona by shooting one-under par, tied for fourth among all golfers. Haley Moore and Bianca Pagdanganan shot even par, tied for sixth. Ya Chun Chang shot three-over-par. Sandra Nordaas shot six-over-par.

Four of those five golfers were part of Arizona’s 2018 championship quintet, with Chang being the lone exception. She replaced Gigi Stoll, who opted to turn pro.

They are out to prove last season’s run was no fluke.

“Everybody is just tired of the naysayers, that they can’t play,” UA head coach Laura Ianello told GolfWeek. “I think they’re just ready to give it their all.”