FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The #NSU50 "Top Moments in NSU Athletics History" continues with the 43rd moment on the list: The women's golf team captures its fourth straight NCAA National Championship.
May 19, 2012
In 2012, the Sharks continued its dynasty in NCAA Division II women's golf with another title, but this was different from other years. On paper, 2012 should have been the year the wheels fell off for the Sharks. By the time the spring season started, NSU had only four golfers to field, meaning everyone's score counted and if anyone was injured, the Sharks would not be able to field a team for a tournament. On top of that, the team relied on two freshman and an All-American golfer, Abbey Gittings, who dealt with a back injury during the team's postseason run.
Despite all of this, the Sharks finished atop the 12-team field to win the national championship with a collective score of +82 (308-306-315-305—1,234), 20 strokes ahead of runner-up No. 1 Florida Southern. Gittings also became the third consecutive individual champion from NSU. Her four-round tally of +10 (72-75-78-73—298) was two strokes better than Meghan Moore of UNC-Pembroke who finished at +12 (75-75-78-72—300).
"I am speechless right now," said Gittings after winning the title. "The whole team did a fantastic job this season and I just don't feel like it has all sunk in yet."
"This feels awesome," said head coach Amanda Brown after the victory. "We had to overcome a lot of obstacles to get to this point. We have had only four players in the spring and each player has overcome injuries to reach this point. I could not be more proud of each girl on this team and I am very proud of Abbey winning individually. She's had that goal since last year and she has been so determined in every practice and every tournament and I am just so proud that she was able to reach it. On 14 I told Abbey that Moore was in the clubhouse tied with her at +12 and I think it pushed her through the rest of the round. She was able to birdie 15 and 16 and then hit a great up and down on 17 for par, giving her the edge."
After Gittings on the leaderboard were the two freshman, Liliana Cammisa and Daniela Ortiz, who each finished third with a total score of 301. The team's lone senior, Claudia Wolf, finished in the top-50 with a four-round score of 334.
The Sharks become only the second team in the history of the DII women's golf championship to win four straight titles. Rollins accomplished the feat from 2003-06, with the 2006 title coming in a weather-shortened tournament. The Sharks are now tied with Florida Southern with four championships, trailing only Rollins who has five. Today, NSU, FSC, Lynn and Rollins are the only schools to have won a national championship since the NCAA began hosting the tournament in 2000.
"What can you really say, four National Championships in four years is an amazing accomplishment," said Director of Athletic Michael Mominey in 2012. "This championship may be the most special simply because of the pressure of graduating four seniors from last year's team and the changing of the head coach. Head coach Amanda Brown deserves much of the credit, as she has done an unbelievable job in just her first year. The team has faced more adversity than any before and for that this championship is very, very special".
Check back with NSUSharks.com next Tuesday for the next #NSU50 "Top Moments in NSU Athletics History."Moment No. 1: NSU Athletics is Born
Moment No. 2: Knights Chosen as School Mascot
Moment No. 3: Hansley Hired as Director of Athletics
Moment No. 4: Nova Adds Four Sports
Moment No. 5: Nova Joins NAIA
Moment No. 6: Nova Adds Three More Teams
Moment No. 7: Nova Helps Form FIAC
Moment No. 8: Nova Wins First Conference Championship
Moment No. 9: Baseball and Volleyball Win First Conference Titles
Moment No. 10: NSU Adds Softball
Moment No. 11: NSU Adds Women's Soccer and Wins FSC Tournament Championship
Moment No. 12: NSU Names Ray Ferrero Jr. as School's Fifth President
Moment No. 13: NSU Adds Women's Basketball and Wins Conference Title in First Season
Moment No. 14: NSU Jumps to NCAA Division II and Sunshine State Conference
Moment No. 15: Kyle Ruwe Becomes NSU's First NCAA All-American
Moment No. 16: NSU adds Rowing, Tennis and Men's Cross Country
Moment No. 17: NSU Breaks Ground on University Center
Moment No. 18: Rembe Becomes NSU's First Female NCAA All-American
Moment No. 19: NSU Men's Golf Wins First SSC Championship
Moment No. 20: NSU Unveils Sharks as New Mascot
Moment No. 21: NSU Enshrines Inaugural Hall of Fame Class
Moment No. 22: Women's Golfer Garcia Austt Becomes NSU's First-Ever NCAA Player and Freshman of Year
Moment No. 23: NSU Tennis Goes Program-Best 22-3
Moment No. 24: NSU Volleyball Hosts the Inaugural Sharks Classic
Moment No. 25: NSU Begins Outdoor Track and Field Programs
Moment No. 26: NSU Volleyball Earns First-Ever NCAA Postseason Bid
Moment No. 27: NSU Women's Basketball Wins First SSC Championship
Moment No. 28: NSU Wins Women's Division of 2007-08 SSC Mayors' Cup
Moment No. 29: Abdalla Earns Cross Country Program's First SSC Runner of the Year Award
Moment No. 30: NSU Volleyball Wins South Region and Advances to Elite Eight
Moment No. 31: NSU Launches Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Programs
Moment No. 32: NSU Rowing V4 Claims the School's First Individual DII National Championship
Moment No. 33: NSU Brings Home First NCAA National Championship in Women's Golf
Moment No. 34: NSU Baseball Has Four Players Chosen in MLB Draft
Moment No. 35: Mominey Steps Into Full-Time Role as NSU Director of Athletics
Moment No. 36: The NSU Women's Golf Team Goes Back-to-Back
Moment No. 37: Men's Cross Country Qualifies for NCAA Division II National Championship for First Time
Moment No. 38: The Fledgling Men's and Women's Swimming Teams Have Successful First Season
Moment No. 39: Women's Golf Wins Third Straight NCAA National Championship
Moment No. 40: Berger and Freshman Eight Boat Win SSC and National Sportsmanship Award
Moment No. 41: NSU Athletics Receives the NCAA Division II Community Engagement Award
Moment No. 42: Erin Black Wins Swimming's First Ever NCAA DII Individual Title
