ISU Claims Ninth-Straight NCAA Regional Bid

AMES, Iowa – The No. 23 Iowa State women's golf team is on to NCAA postseason play for the ninth-straight season. The Cyclones were selected to play in the NCAA Madison Regional, May 7-9 in Madison, Wis., as the No. 7 seed.

The NCAA Madison Regional will be held at University Ridge with Wisconsin as the host. The top six teams in the four regionals will advance to the NCAA Championships, May 18-23 at Karsten Creek in Stillwater, Okla. The three individuals in each regional not among the teams advancing will also punch a ticket to Stillwater.

The Cyclones will be heading to familiar territory. Iowa State was the champion at the East-West Match Play held at University Ridge in September. It was ISU's first team title since 2012.

This marks the 13^th time and the ninth year in a row (1993-96, 2010-18) Iowa State has qualified for an NCAA Regional. In 2014, the Cyclones advanced to the NCAA Championships for the first and only time in school history, finishing 23^rd at the national tournament.

"One of our goals every year is to peak at the end of the season, and we are always excited to make it to regionals," Iowa State head coach Christie Martens said. "We can't wait to get out and practice to prepare. Our seniors have played a huge role in this. They have been there before and they know what an exciting time of year this is. This team has a lot of experience. They know what it takes to be successful."

Iowa State earned its ninth-straight upper half finish at the Big 12 Championship on Sunday by placing fourth at the Dallas Athletic Club. The big story of the weekend was the incredible play of senior Celia Barquin Arozamena, who won her first career tournament by claiming medalist honors at the Big 12 Championship with a three-shot victory (73-71-69=213).

"She's a phenomenal player," Martens said about Barquin Arozamena. "I can't say that it was a surprise she won the Big 12 Championship. However, there are so many fantastic players in our league. We have a U.S. Amateur champion, players that have won multiple titles this year, so for her win on that stage, I was so thrilled for her."

Barquin Arozamena's triumph was just the second by a Cyclone in a conference tournament (Shelley Finnestad, 1993 Big Eight).

The senior, who ranks 69^th nationally by Golfweek, has posted another outstanding season, leading the team in stroke average (73.32) and top-10 finishes (5). Her career 73.47 stroke average is No. 1 in school history and her 16 top-10 finishes is tied for second in the ISU record book.

Junior Chayanit Wangmahaporn, who ranks 74^th nationally by Golfweek, is second on the team in stroke average (74.12) and top-10 finishes (4).

Iowa State Women's Golf National Tournament Appearances
1972- AIAW Championship, 18th place
1975- AIAW Championship, 17th place
1982- AIAW Championship, 23rd place
1993- NCAA East Regional, 11th place
1994- NCAA East Regional, 19th place
1995- NCAA East Regional, 18th place
1996- NCAA East Regional, 15th place
2010- NCAA West Regional, 10th place
2011- NCAA West Regional, 10th place
2012- NCAA West Regional, 14th place
2013- NCAA Central Regional, 16th place
2014- NCAA West Regional, T6th place
2014- NCAA Championship, 23rd place
2015- NCAA Raleigh Regional, T10th place
2016- NCAA Shoal Creek Regional, T13th place
2017- NCAA Lubbock Regional, 10^th place
2018- NCAA Madison Regional, May 7-9

2018 NCAA Madison Regional Participants- in order by seed
Duke, USC, Arizona State, Northwestern, Illinois, Purdue, Iowa State, Virginia, Wisconsin, Campbell, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Old Dominion, Oregon State, Idaho, Murray State, North Dakota State, IUPUI