Mirabel fires Florida State into NCAA Finals
KUALA LUMPUR: Mirabel Ting's sensational collegiate season continues as the Malaysian ace powered Florida State University (FSU) into the NCAA Championship Finals.
The 21-year-old, currently the world No. 2 amateur, was instrumental in FSU clinching the NCAA Lexington Regional title at Kentucky's Keene Trace Golf Club on Wednesday — their record-breaking seventh team victory of the season.
Mirabel carded a final round two-under 70, highlighted by three birdies, to finish tied for second on 10-under 206 alongside world No. 1 teammate Lottie Woad of England.
The individual crown went to Kansas State's Carla Bernat, who surged ahead with a sizzling six-under 66 to finish on 12-under.
With the five-shot victory over Georgia Southern and Kansas State, FSU lead a five-team cast from the Lexington Regional into the NCAA Finals, which will be staged in Carlsbad, California from May 16–21.
Southern California and Vanderbilt also advanced.
The win cements FSU's red-hot form, having triumphed in six of their seven spring events with Mirabel right at the heart of their charge.
Already boasting five wins in her last six starts, Mirabel has now posted under-par scores in all eight of her collegiate tournaments this season, underlining her consistency and class ahead of the season's biggest test.
FSU coach Amy Bond paid tribute to her team's composure and belief.
"All of the girls played really good golf this week, and I'm so proud of all of them," said Bond on the school's official golf page.
"Advancing from the regional championship is one of the goals we set for ourselves when the season began. The girls took a lot of stress out of the week because they all played well.
"To make it to the national championship is what we've worked all spring to do. Now we have the opportunity to test ourselves against the best teams in the nation as one of the last 30 teams standing."
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