The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
UNLV Rebel Classic
Vandermade tied for eighth after first round of Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown
10.27.2008 | Women's Golf
Oct. 27, 2008
BOULDER CITY, Nev. -- University of Texas freshman Nicole Vandermade (69, -3) fired an opening-round 3-under-par 69 at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown to finish day one tied for eighth place. As a team, the Longhorns (288, E) are also tied for eighth place on the leaderboard after 18 holes of action at the Boulder Creek Golf Club.
En route to her collegiate career-low round, Vandermade found four birdie opportunities on the par-72, 6,265-yard Boulder Creek Golf Club to counter a lone bogey. Vandermade's red numbers came on the third, ninth, 11th and 13th holes, and her only blemish occurred on the par-3 eighth hole. To date, the Brantford, Ontario, native has collected three top-25 finishes in as many events and leads the Longhorns with a 73.6 scoring average through the fall schedule.
With an even-par 72, senior Kelley Louth also fired her best round of the season and is three strokes behind Vandermade in a tie for 26th place. After opening her round with bogeys on the first and third holes, Louth made a final bogey on the 11th hole before staging a comeback with back-to-back birdies on holes 12 and 13 and a final birdie on the 16th hole to save par for her round.
Junior Shannon Fish carded a 1-over 73 to stand tied for 36th place, while senior Kristin Wall finished the day tied for 52nd at 2-over 74. Senior Caney Hines is tied for 67th at 4-over 76.
Louisville and Pepperdine top the leaderboard at 8-under 280, while host UNLV and Oklahoma State are tied for third place at 6-under 282. Texas Tech (283) rounds out the top-five teams at 5-under.
On the individual leaderboard, Long Beach State 's Lee Lopez (64, -8) holds a three-stroke lead over a trio of players tied for second place at 5-under 67.
Tuesday's second round begins at 9:30 a.m. Central time when Texas tees off in the first five groups with Washington and Idaho.
2008 Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown
Boulder Creek Golf Club — Par 72, 6,265 yards
Round 1 of 3
Top 5 Teams
T1. Louisville (280, -8)
T1. Pepperdine (280, -8)
T3. UNLV (282, -6)
T3. Oklahoma State (282, -6)
5. Texas Tech (283, -5).
Top 7 Individuals
1. Lee Lopez, Long Beach State (64, -8)
T2. Pernilla Lindberg, Oklahoma State (67, -5)
T2. Cindy LaCrosse, Louisville (67, -5)
T2. Lisa McCloskey, Pepperdine (67, -5)
T5. Anya Alvarez, Washington (68, -4)
T5. Kristen Schelling, UNLV (68, -4)
T5. Therese Koelback, UNLV (68, -4).
UT Individuals
T8. Nicole Vandermade, 69 (-3)
T26. Kelley Louth, 72 (E)
T36. Shannon Fish, 73 (+1)
T52. Kristin Walla, 74 (+2)
T67. Caney Hines, 76 (+4).
POST-ROUND QUOTES
HEAD COACH Martha Richards
On the team's overall performance: This course has set up beautifully for our game. There is no wind here, and it's clearly resulting in some lower scores. With conditions like this, today's round was up for the taking.
The good news is we shot a good number. The better news is we are capable of more. You can't come out here on a course like this and try to shoot a good number, though. You have to let it come naturally, and we're getting closer to that break through.
On the play of freshman Nicole Vandermade and senior Kelley Louth: Nicole and Kelley both played well today, just really steady all day. Kelley, in particular, was hitting fairways and greens all day, and that sets up for a few easy birdies.
