Palm Coast, Fla. — Led by four players finishing in the top 6, the Bethel University Women’s Golf team successfully defended their National Championship of a year ago, firing a 3rd round score of 317 and outdistancing Grace College by 9 strokes.
Bethel was led all week by the spectacular play of junior Maria Pardo Victori (Sevilla, Spain), who finished 2nd overall, just 1 shot out of Medalist honors, firing rounds of 77-75-78 (230).
Pardo Victori kept Bethel close on Day 1 with her stellar 77 and ignited a charge on Day 2 with 6 birdies and a score of 75.
Jessica Shurety, the 2021 National Championship Medalist, battled back in a big way from a rough start in round one, carding back-to-back 76’s and finishing third overall in the standings.
One spot behind Shurety was teammate Taeyon Kwon, while freshman Selah Unwin was just one more spot back in 6th place overall.
Pardo Victori, Shurety, Kwon and Unwin all earned All-American honors, while Coach Christopher Hess was named NCCAA National Coach of the Year for the second year in a row.
“Our goal has always been to be excellent in everything we do, but that does not always mean that victory is the end result. Sometimes you must fight through some difficulty along the way,” said Head Coach Christopher Hess. “There are so many things about the ladies on this team that amaze me, but the one thing that really stood out this week was the way that they refused to diminish in the face of adversity. They rallied together, came from behind, and when the pressure was the most intense (and it was), they stepped up and performed in a big-time way. I am just very blessed to be called their coach. To God be the glory, no matter what place we finish in!”
This national title is the 46th team National Championship in Bethel’s history.
TEAM STANDINGS
- Bethel                              +92       331-308-317 (956)
- Grace                               +101     327-314-324 (965)
- Oakland City                    +220     370-358-356 (1084)
- Trinity Christian         +255     384-361-374 (1119)
- Paine College                   +271     400-374-361 (1135)
- Central Christian        +429     432-434-427 (1293)
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS
2             Maria Pardo Victori              77-75-78 (230)
T3           Jessica Shurety                                86-76-76 (238)
5             Taeyon Kwon                   85-76-82 (243)
6             Selah Unwin                   85-81-81 (247)
14           Katie Blauw                    84-91-86 (261)