Five years ago, Gabrielle Shipley capped off her high school golf career by winning a state title in Michigan.
On Saturday, she finished off her college golf career by claiming an individual national championship.
It was a nice bit of symmetry.
The Grand Valley State (Mich.) senior pulled off her college career dream by prevailing by one stroke in Saturday’s Women’s NCAA Division II Finals at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora.
And she did it in style by making a 6-foot putt for birdie on her final hole as a collegian.
“I’m so excited,” she said after her one-shot victory over fellow senior Kasey Petty of Findlay (Ohio). “But I don’t know if it’s sunk in yet. I think everybody knew except me that I had to make that (final) birdie putt. I didn’t know what it was for — for my low score (ever in a college tournament) and to win it. When everyone cheered that was reassuring. I had yet to break 70 in a college tournament, so that was a goal. (Winning) was also a goal, since my freshman year. I’m so happy that I did it.”
Shipley, who has finished in the top five individually in every tournament but one this season, closed with a 3-under-par 69 to go 73-70-70-69 for a 6-under-par 282 total for the week. She made four birdies in a five-hole stretch on the front nine — draining a 50-foot double-breaker on No. 4 — then played her final four holes in 2 under par. The result was the top golf accomplishment of her young career.
“I just wanted to commit to every shot today, commit to no regrets and to just play my own game. And I did that,” she said.
But as far knowing how she stood relative to her competition, she had no interest in that.
“I had no idea where I was standing coming into the last day,” she said. “I haven’t looked at a scoreboard yet. I don’t like thinking numbers, I don’t like knowing anything because it’s just me playing the golf course. That’s all I want to focus on. I kind of knew my score, but the two bogeys (on 12 and 13) threw my brain off. I think that was kind of a blessing because I had no idea what that last birdie putt was for.”
The result was Shipley’s 11th individual victory over her college career.
Petty, who has five individual wins to her credit, bolted out to an early lead on Saturday thanks to two birdies and an eagle in her first six holes. But an eight-hole stretch in the middle of the round in which she was 3 over par cost her. A birdie on her 16th hole tied her with Shipley before the Grand Valley State golfer closed with the birdie. Petty posted a 70 and a 283 total.
Senior Isabel Jimenez Perea of Tarleton State was the only other golfer to finish under par for the week as she shot 72 Saturday and placed third at 285.
In the team competition, Rollins College (Fla.; left) earned its record sixth NCAA DII national championship in women’s golf, though the first since 2008. The Tars held or shared the lead from the end of the first round on and their 21-over-par 1,173 total was nine better than 2015 champion Indianapolis. Nova Southeastern was third at 1,183.
The title ended the careers of Rollins seniors Hally Leadbetter and Annie Dulman. They teamed with sophomores Lexi Toth and Madison Lellyo, and junior Paige Lyle. Individually, Toth placed fourth on Saturday, Dulman ninth, Leadbetter 15th, Lyle 20th and Lellyo 53rd.
Leadbetter, the daughter of world-renowned golf instructor David Leadbetter, led after 36 holes, but went 74-82 the last two days.
“The whole tournament was a team effort,” said Hally Leadbetter, who plans to go to Ladies European Tour Q-school next winter. “I was pleased I did my part the first two days. Today I obviously did my best but it wasn’t a great day (personally). That happens. But I’m so so happy that me and Annie, our other senior, could finish (with a title) because last year we lost to Indianapolis. This was now or nothing, so let’s get it done. That was really great.
“We gave it our shot with no regrets. You can’t have fear out there. We gave it our all. Thankfully it was enough.”
David Leadbetter followed his daughter all four rounds at CommonGround. (The Leadbetters are pictured at left.)
“It’s important to be out here for the last (college) tournament,” he said afterward.
The women’s tourney — and the men’s DII finals at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club — were part of the NCAA Division II National Championships Festival in which titles in six sports (M&W golf, M&W tennis, softball and women’s lacrosse) were decided.
For scores from the women’s tournament at CommonGround, CLICK HERE.
