Georgia golf: Watch Caterina Don dunk during NCAA match play

Georgia golf saw its women’s season end on Tuesday, but not without a little razzle dazzle from Caterina Don. The Dawgs got eliminated by No.1 ranked Stanford in the quarterfinals of match play.

However, the ladies should be incredibly proud of themselves for hanging in there with Stanford and making it to the match play portion of the NCAA Tournament.

The Dawgs fell 3-2 to Stanford at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., but it was a close fight.

Georgia golf saw its women’s team eliminated in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament.

Stanford was No.1 in the country for a reason, they dominated most of the season, and they have the world’s No.1-ranked amateur Rose Zhang. She isn’t the only talented player on that squad but is one to note.

Georgia should be proud of its performance on Tuesday despite not going the way it wanted it. Those girls left it all out on the course and shouldn’t hang their heads.

Don did give the Dawgs something to smile about as she left her mark on the 2022 tournament as she made an incredible shot that should go on ESPN’s Top 10 list this week.

She won one of the two points Georgia earned during this match against Stanford. For the Dawgs to compete with some of the best women in collegiate golf shows a bright future for this group.

Those two points didn’t come easily. Don beat Sadie Englemann 3-and-1, giving the Dawgs a 1-0 lead.

Candice Mahé had the tough task of Zhang, and she did her job by beating her 1-up, which should give her a massive confidence boost.

She never trailed Zhang, even though the match between these two was a battle that went back and forth. Zhang won the individual NCAA title on Monday, so seeing Mahé get the match point over her was even sweeter.

They tied a few times, but Mahé dug deep and beat the No.1 ranked amateur in the world. She deserves something for that.

Don was behind for most of the round, but a birdie at No. 7 and No.9 tied it up, and she put on the pressure. Then on hole No. 10, Don made that incredible shot from 162-yards out, giving her the first lead of the day.

Englemann fought for it and tied it again at No.11, but Don wouldn’t give up. She looked determined and like she wanted to win this point more than anything else. She won No. 12 and No. 16, then finished the match at No.17.

It didn’t take Stanford long to steal away that lead as they won three matches within 10 minutes of each other. Rachel Heck beat Georgia senior Jenny Bae 2-up, Brook Seay beat Jo Hua Hung 3-and-2, and Aline Krauther defeated LoraLie Cowart 2-up.

"“We knew we have depth and we’ve shown it,” Georgia women’s golf coach Josh Brewer said after the round on Tuesday. “It’s nice to have all of them play well and put critical rounds on the board for us. When you get to the national championships and finish top-5, it’s a pretty darn good year.”"

Georgia officially earned a tie for fifth place in the team standings, and that is the Dawgs’ best finish at the NCAA tournament since 2002 when they placed fourth.

This team had a lot of doubters, but they showed the college golf world that they were a force. Despite falling in the quarterfinals, this group of girls should know how special this season was for them.

They have every right to feel disappointed in how the tournament ended for the Dawgs, but at the same time, hopefully, they will be proud of themselves too.

Georgia returns Cowart, Mahé, and Don next year as Bae and Hua Hung are the two lone seniors graduating from this starting lineup. The Dawgs should have another impressive group next season, and after this finish, they will be looking to make their return.