Fletcher Earns Third NCAA Regional Bid

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Senior women's golfer Michaela Fletcher became the first player in program history to earn three NCAA regional bids with an invitation to the Norman Regional as an individual competitor Wednesday.

Fletcher just became the first Lady Tiger in program history to earn three all-conference honors last week after a third-place finish at The American Athletic Conference Championships in Palm Coast, Florida. That third-place finish was her third top 10 and eighth top 20 of this season and her final round 66 tied a school record.

The Pietermaritzburg, South Africa native first qualified for the NCAA Regionals in 2015 as a freshman. At the Notre Dame Regional, she finished tied for fifth, and as one of the top three finishers on a non-qualifying team in the regional, earned a spot in the NCAA Championship field. At the national event, Fletcher carded a three-round 234, which didn't advance her to match play, but did help her finish tied for 53^rd overall.

After missing all of the 2015-16 season with an injury, Fletcher fought her way back into the NCAA Regional field in the spring of 2017. At the Columbus Regional, she scored a 225 and finished 25^th overall.

Last season, Fletcher just missed the NCAA field with a 74.2 stroke average. This year, as a redshirt senior, Fletcher is carrying a 71.5 stroke average and is currently 53^rd in the latest GolfStat Cup women's rankings.

In total, 72 teams qualify for the NCAA Regional round. Twenty-seven teams receive their respective league's automatic qualifier and an additional 45 teams earn at-large bids based on win-loss records, strength of schedule and availability/eligibility of student-athletes. Additionally, 24 individuals not already on a qualifying team will be selected for regional participation.

This year's four regionals will be contested May 6-8 at the following sites:

Saugahatchee Country Club (Opelika, Ala., Auburn, host)
Washington Tumble Creek Golf Club, Cle Elum, Washington (University of Washington, host)
Michigan Forest Akers Golf Courses-West, Lansing, Michigan (Michigan State and Lansing Sports Authority, hosts)
Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club, Norman, Oklahoma (University of Oklahoma, host)

The four regionals consist of 18 teams and six individuals at each event. The competition is a 54-hole event with the top three teams and the three lowest-scoring individuals not on an advancing team moving on to the finals.

The 2019 NCAA Women's Golf Championship finals will be hosted May 17-22 at The Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

University of Memphis Athletics

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