Lau Receives NCAA Invitation, Will Play in East Lansing Regional
4/24/2019 6:51:00 PM | Women's Golf
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan women's golf freshman Ashley Lau received an individual bid to the 2019 NCAA East Lansing Regional on Wednesday (April 24) as announced live on Golf Channel.
Lau will head to the regional site hosted by Michigan State in East Lansing, Monday through Wednesday, May 6-8, at Forest Akers West Course. She becomes the fourth U-M individual to earn an NCAA individual selection and the first since Ashley Bauer in 2010.
"Honestly, I didn't expect to have a chance to qualify for the NCAA regional as an individual," said Lau. "It's always been a dream of mine but never have I ever thought about it this entire season until after Coach told me about it after Big Tens. I'll definitely work as hard as I can to play well in it."
"What a deserving honor for Ashley and the season she has had," said U-M head coach Jan Dowling. "Ashley has been so consistent all year long. She led our team in four different events, was our low scoring-average leader and had a great finish, tying for 11th, at the Big Ten Championships. We are thrilled she gets to experience NCAAs for herself and the future of our team."
MSU's regional is one of four sites. The three other regional sites include Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club in Norman, Oklahoma (hosted by Oklahoma); Saugahatchee Country Club, in Opelika, Alabama (hosted by Auburn); and Tumble Creek Golf Club in Cle Elum, Washington (hosted by Washington).
Lau will begin her quest to the 2019 NCAA Championships by playing a practice round at the West Course on Sunday, May 5. The regional consists of 54 holes, with 18 holes being played each day beginning at 8 a.m. From each regional, the top six teams and top three individuals not on a qualifying team will advance to the NCAA Finals, to be held Friday through Wednesday, May 17-22, at Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
In her first season in Ann Arbor, Lau started all 11 events and led the Wolverines four times. Her 74.07 scoring average is tops on U-M and ranks as the fourth lowest in program history. In her 28 rounds, she has a team-best nine rounds of par or better with six par rounds and three sub-par rounds. She fired a career-low 71 (-1) three times this season. In her first Big Ten Championships, she tied for 11th, her fourth top-20 finish of the season. She posted a season-low tie for ninth at the Lady Buckeye Invitational.
With Lau's selection, Michigan has been represented in regional competition by the team or an individual 13 times, with nine team appearances (2001, '02, '05, '07, '09, '11, '12, '16 and '17). Laura Olin (2004), Amy Schmucker (2006) and Ashley Bauer (2010) made NCAA appearances as individuals. U-M has advanced to three NCAA Finals in 2002, 2016 and 2017.
Michigan's History in the NCAA Postseason
• 2001, East Regional - 12th of 21 (308-308-309/925) - program's first invitation
• 2002, Central Regional - 6th of 21 (313-322-294/929)
     • 2002, NCAA Finals - 17th of 24 (301-299-299-300/1199) - program's first advancement to NCAA Finals
• 2004, Central Regional - Laura Olin, individual, t-17th (75-76-78/229)
• 2005, Central Regional - 15th of 21 (301-320-305/926)
• 2006, Central Regional - Amy Schmucker, individual, t-71st (80-82-78/240)
• 2007, Central Regional - 13th of 21 (311-305-310/926) - hosted at U-M Golf Course
• 2009, Central Regional - 17th of 21 (312-321-327/960)
• 2010, Central Regional - Ashley Bauer, individual, t-76th (78-87-80/245)
• 2011, Central Regional - 18th of 24 (316-307-315/938)
• 2012, Central Regional - 16th of 24 (315-316-306/937)
• 2016, Alabama Regional - 6th of 18 (311-304-300/916)
     • 2016, NCAA Finals - t-18th of 24 (296-299-292/887) - program's second advancement to NCAA Finals
• 2017, Columbus Regional - 6th of 18 (312-293-303/908)
     • 2017, NCAA Finals - t-16th of 24 (315-315-299/929 - program's third advancement to NCAA Finals
• 2019, East Lansing Regional - Ashley Lau, individual
Players Mentioned
