Charlotte Mayorkas (Golf)

With wins in 2003-'04, the Bruin women increased UCLA's record number of NCAA team championships to 94

by Wendy Soderburg '82
Photography by Scott Quintard, UCLA Photo

“We just got back from Charlotte’s room tonight after watching Miracle. Just a little team bonding.”

So wrote Susie Mathews, a member of the second-ranked UCLA women’s golf team, on Day 3 of the NCAA Women’s Golf Championships at Auburn’s Grand National Resort in Opelika, Ala. Mathews recorded her thoughts in an online diary during the team’s weeklong trip to Alabama in May.

As it turned out, the women didn’t need extra bonding. On May 22, they defeated second-place Oklahoma State by three strokes and top-ranked Duke by 11 strokes to win the 2004 national championship in a rain-delayed final round. The NCAA title was UCLA’s second of the 2003-’04 academic year (women’s gymnastics was the first) and the Bruins’ 92nd title overall.

“This is one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever had,” said Head Coach Carrie Forsyth ’94 after the Bruins had clinched only their second title in school history. “Our team played absolutely great today. We knew that we needed to come out and play solidly to leave here with the trophy.”

The Bruins played the final round in two-over par 290 and finished with a 72-hole score of 1,148, four-under par. Individually, UCLA received clutch performances from All-Americans Charlotte Mayorkas and Mathews. Mayorkas played the back nine in three-under par 33 for a final round score of 70, while Mathews played the inward nine in two-under par 34 for an even par round of 72. The Bruins also received strong performances from seniors Gina Umeck and Krystal Shearer and freshman Hannah Jun.

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