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NBC Sports
21-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Why Tulsa women could be most dangerous ninth seed at NCAA regionals
Mike Roters' first impression after being hired last July to lead the Tulsa women's golf program? 'The unwavering confidence of these girls,' Roters answered. 'They had big goals from the get-go; they were making nationals again.' Even after losing head coach Annie Young, who took an assistant position at her alma mater, Oklahoma State. Even after finishing the fall ranked No. 100 in the country and 26 wins below .500. Even after entering the American Athletic Conference Championship in a win-or-go-home scenario. 'It's all they talk about, and they haven't proven themselves wrong yet,' Roters added. 'They truly believe they're getting there.' The Golden Hurricane dominated their conference foes last week at Southern Hills Plantation in Brooksville, Florida, winning by 21 shots the program's second AAC title, first since 2021, and nabbing an automatic bid into an NCAA regional. Individually, midseason arrival Romaine Masserey from Collombey, Switzerland, became the school's first conference medalist. Now, Tulsa is just a top-five regional finish away from accomplishing that goal of reaching a third consecutive NCAA Championship. Brentley Romine, This after the Golden Hurricane almost didn't have a team. It was early July with Young announced her shocking departure. Lily Thomas had already turned pro in the middle of last season to compete in LPGA Q-Series, and accompanying Young to Stillwater was the team's top player, Grace Kilcrease, who is currently the No. 35 player in the nation for the Cowgirls. Sophomore Allyn Stephens also entered her name in the portal, and others were apparently considering the same. Roters was in Carlsbad, California, recruiting as South Carolina's assistant at the IMG Academy Junior World Championships when his phone rang. On the other line was a Tulsa administrator. That was a Tuesday; Roters was officially hired that Friday. He was welcomed by a tight-knit team – a group that included Stephens, who returned to Tulsa after Roters' hire – that spends a lot of time together, cooking meals, holding team meetings and communicating nonstop. But that cohesiveness couldn't overcome the loss of Kilcrease last fall. Roters estimates it was around six shots per round that the Golden Hurricane were trying to make up, 18 to 20 per tournament. 'I knew I needed to be patient with them,' Roters said, 'but I also knew we needed to find another player.' And so, Roters reached out to his European contacts and came across a late-bloomer on the Swiss national team who didn't start playing golf until age 16 and was graduating from Sorbonne University in Paris. Masserey, a skier for much of her childhood, arrived in January to help dig Tulsa out of a sizable hole. Masserey's 72.8 adjusted scoring average isn't quite comparable to Kilcrease, but her four top-25s to close the regular season have been enough to spark this program. 'We're not where we are today without Romaine,' Roters said. • • • Notable midseason arrivals • Eila Galitsky, South Carolina (Scoreboard rank: 18) • Chloe Kovelesky, Wake Forest (24) • Eunseo Choi, Pepperdine (190) • Romaine Masserey, Tulsa (208) Starting in March, Roters has urged his players, of which four have NCAA Championship experience, to treat every tournament like a regional. They've yet to finish outside the top five since, including at conference, where a runner-up finish still wouldn't have been enough to get them over the .500 mark. 'I've just kept pressuring them, putting those scenarios on them,' Roters said. 'And they just answered every time, and at conference, you could see the depth and experience, they just didn't fold, and they put the hammer down.' Cue the water shower! 🚿 Romaine Masserey is The American Women's Golf Individual Champion!🏆@TulsaWGolf is also The American Women's Golf Team Champions!⛳️🏆#AmericanWay x #AmericanGolf Tulsa is projected right now as a ninth seed heading to Lubbock, Texas. If the fields were finalized today, they'd be joined in that regional by a fifth-seeded Oklahoma State. Roters says his team would relish that opportunity, but truthfully, it doesn't matter who they're up against. 'To be honest, I don't think anybody wants to see us in their regional because we're playing to a four or five seed,' Roters said. 'I don't care where we go; we're a dangerous team right now that's trying to upset someone.'
Associated Press
24-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
BDO USA Teams Up With Olympian and Pro Golfer Albane Valenzuela
BDO USA, one of the nation's leading accounting and advisory firms, has signed three-time Olympian and professional golfer, Albane Valenzuela, as a brand ambassador. Valenzuela will sport the BDO logo on her polo during each of her tournaments on the LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour this year. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Albane Valenzuela 'Golf is a sport of precision, discipline and excellence, which are qualities we bring to BDO clients every day to help them thrive,' said BDO USA CEO Wayne Berson. 'A three-time Olympian, standout college athlete, and rising star on the LPGA Tour, Albane is a highly accomplished golfer whose values – both on and off the course - align with ours at BDO. We are inspired not only by her worldclass dedication, but also by her commitment to raise funds for autism research through the Alexis for Autism foundation she started with her brother.' In addition to wearing BDO's logo during tournament play, Valenzuela will join the company during various personal and promotional appearances throughout the year. BDO will also support the Alexis for Autism foundation, whose focus and purpose are to organize golf events to raise funds for associations, foundations and medical research for autism. To date, the charity has raised over $300,000 for autism-related research. 'On its surface, golf looks like an individual sport, but no one thrives alone,' Valenzuela said. 'Success in sport and in business requires the collective efforts of a full team, and I felt a strong connection with the team at BDO. Their people-first culture and purpose to help people thrive, every day, is the type of culture I'm excited to be part of and represent.' ABOUT BDO USA Our purpose is helping people thrive, every day. Together, we are focused on delivering exceptional and sustainable outcomes and value for our people, our clients and our communities. BDO is proud to be an ESOP company, reflecting a culture that puts people first. BDO professionals provide assurance, tax and advisory services for a diverse range of clients across the U.S. and in over 160 countries through our global organization. BDO is the brand name for the BDO network and for each of the BDO Member Firms. BDO USA, P.C., a Virginia professional corporation, is the U.S. member of BDO International Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, and forms part of the international BDO network of independent member firms. For more information, please visit: ABOUT ALBANE VALENZUELA Born in New York City, and raised in Mexico City and Geneva, Switzerland, Albane Valenzuela is one of the rising stars of women's golf. She turned professional after a decorated amateur career at Stanford University, having earned her full 2020 LPGA Tour card via the LPGA Q-Series. During her four years at Stanford University, she rose to second in the World Amateur Golf Rankings and won multiple elite tournaments. She finished runner-up in the 2017 and 2019 U.S. Women's Amateur Championships and was the 2019 Pac-12 Golfer of the Year (first in program history). Albane represented Team Switzerland in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games and Team Europe in the 2024 Solheim Cup. Albane co-founded ' Alexis for Autism ' with her brother, Alexis, and together they have raised over $300,000 for ASD research. MJ Romano SOURCE: BDO USA Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 03/24/2025 09:15 AM/DISC: 03/24/2025 09:17 AM
USA Today
22-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
LPGA announces changes to its qualifying sites for 2025, making it easier on players
LPGA announces changes to its qualifying sites for 2025, making it easier on players The LPGA has announced the dates for its 2025 Qualifying Series along with a new twist. The first stage, now known as Pre-Qualifying, will be held Sept. 24-26 but will have three different locations players can choose from: Indian Wells Golf and Country Club in Indian Wells, California; LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Florida; and Denton Country Club in Argyle, Texas. The first stage of LPGA qualifying has long been held at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, over several different courses. Last year's event was held at both the Dinah Shore and Arnold Palmer courses as well as the Classic course at Indian Wells Country Club. More than 300 players signed up for pre-qualifying in 2024. The first stage also moved from its traditional August timeframe to late September, moving it closer to Qualifying (formerly Stage 2), which will be held Oct. 15-18 once again at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida. Final Qualifying will be held Dec. 4-8 at Magnolia Grove Golf Course in Mobile, Alabama. The changes should prove cost-saving for players and give them more flexibility. It's also easier to learn one course rather than three. 'The changes to the LPGA Q-Series structure, specifically the Pre-Qualifying stage, were made based on feedback on timing and location," said Tommy Tangtiphaiboontana, the LPGA's Senior Vice President of Tournament Operations, in a release. "The three-site model for Pre-Qualifying accommodates players in different regions, minimizes wait time for athletes advancing from Pre-Qualifying to Qualifying and allows the LPGA to utilize one course for each competition to improve player preparation for the event." The number of players that advance out of each Pre-Qualifying site will be determined based on the number of entries for each location. The top 25 players and ties at Final Qualifying will earn LPGA Tour cards for the 2026 season. All players who complete at least the second stage will earn Epson Tour eligibility for 2026.
NBC Sports
19-02-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Another All-American has departed UCLA midseason
UCLA is suddenly down another All-American. Senior Caroline Canales is no longer with the team following the Bruins' spring opener earlier this month, UCLA head coach Alicia Um Holmes confirmed on Wednesday. While UCLA had yet to officially announce the departure, the team's roster no longer includes Canales, who becomes the second Bruin to leave midseason. Fellow senior Zoe Campos turned pro to compete in the final qualifying stage of LPGA Q-Series last December, though she missed the cut and will compete on the Epson Tour this year. Canales also qualified for the Q-Series finale but opted to remain amateur and return to school, deferring her Epson status until the summer. Canales is expected to remain amateur through at least the Augusta National Women's Amateur in April and could play Epson as an amateur in the interim. UCLA advanced to the NCAA final last season but is currently ranked No. 31 in the country following a T-11 finish at the Therese Hession Regional Challenge. Canales, ranked No. 100 individually and No. 63 in the world amateur rankings, finished T-21 to lead the Bruins that week. Last season, Canales posted four top-10s and capped her NCAA Championship by going 3-0 in match play.
