HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. --- Prior to the 2023 NCAA National Championships, Bruin head coach Mary Jo McCloskey said that she was ready to embrace the number 13 — the number of consecutive years that the George Fox women's golf team had qualified for the national tournament.

13 proved to be the lucky number for the Bruins — after years of having the title within reach, the Fox women pushed through to capture their first-ever national championship, defeating the field with a final round of 304 and a combined score of 933 to earn the 2023 NCAA title.

How It Happened
After a third round that was canceled due to an unplayable sixth hole, the Bruins headed into Thursday with a five-stroke lead over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. Fox was paired with CMS and fellow West Coast team Pomona-Pitzer to round out the final group. 

Through the first nine holes, the round became a quick back-and-forth between CMS and the Bruins. Fox fell behind the Athenas in the early stages, with every Bruin registering at least one bogey in the opening three holes. From there, Fox locked down: Alison Takamiya and Makensie Toole both recorded a birdie on consecutive holes, while Avery Kageyama finished her front nine with a birdie on nine. After the front nine, the Bruins and Athenas were tied overall.

It was the back nine where Fox began to pull away. As a team, the scoring Bruins recorded just five bogeys on the final nine holes, leaving CMS behind. In the Athena's place came a new challenger at Washington University. More than 10 strokes behind Fox to begin the day, the Bears recorded a tournament-best team score of 299 thanks to an NCAA single-round record from Annie Mascot, who finished the day with a 68 (-5).

Rather than be phased, though, the Bruins responded to the record day with one of the best back nines in program history. The four scoring players finished the final nine holes with a composite score of two-under. All five players finished with at least one birdie, with Kageyama finishing her career in a storybook way — the senior played her last 10 holes with two birdies, one impressive eagle on the par-four hole 13, and no bogeys.

Along with Kageyema's play, Takamiya finished with three birdies on the day and Toole rounded out her day with two birdies in the final three holes. Liana Brown — who finished Thursday as the highest-scoring Bruin — stayed steady with eight bogeys and one birdie on the back nine. Giselle Flint ended her day with a birdie on 15.

As has been the case all season, it was Takamiya who rounded out the tournament for Fox. The junior finished with a tap-in par and was quickly mobbed by her teammates in celebration.

For the final round, Brown ended the day with a 76 (+3) to end tied for seventh individually, the highest-scoring Bruin overall. Takamiya finished with a 77 (+4) to end in ninth place with Toole placing 13th overall with a team-best final round of 75 (+2). Kageyama ended her Bruin career with a T25 finish and a 76 (+3), while Flint completed her comeback season with a 77th place spot and a final round of 82 (+9). While not competing, both Kiana Toole and Ainsley Carter joined their teammates on the trip and in the post-round celebration.

Coach's Thoughts
"We are actually still a bit in shock! It's been a 4-day battle on a very challenging course in hot and humid conditions with thunderstorm delays and interesting pin placements which lead to the canceling of the third round after we had finished. Each day, we seemed to start out slower than other teams but then we got it done on the back nine. This final round was the best though. 

Avery's eagle on the par 4 13th hole today was a 150 yard uphill blind shot into a tricky green. That's when I felt that magic might be happening for us, and sure enough—Makensie birdied 16 snd 17 and birdies were flying on the back nine. Every team member had a birdie. We went 2 under as a team on the back nine.

We are just so pleased to represent George Fox and the entire community, including the Northwest Conference! We are so grateful and overwhelmed by the support, and are so humbled and proud to bring this National Championship to Oregon. It represents a lot of hard work but also so many people including our fabulous alums who blazed the trail and inspired us and helped us believe it could be done and all our parents and supporters."

What It Means
The national championship is the fourth NCAA title in George Fox Athletics history, following baseball (2004), women's basketball (2009), and women's track and field (2018). The Bruins are just the third women's golf program west of the Mississippi and the first school in the Pacific Northwest to win the title.

What Happens Next
The Bruin women will return to defend their title in the fall of 2024.