The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational
Women's Golf takes third at Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational
03.19.2008 | Women's Golf
AUSTIN, Texas -- Led by junior Kristin Walla's six-over 78, Texas battled through windy conditions to shoot a 34-over 322 and finish in third place at the 18-team Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational Wednesday afternoon at the par 72, 6,344-yard University of Texas Golf Club.
After Tuesday's second round was washed out by heavy rain, the tournament field completed the second and final round on Wednesday, as round-one leader New Mexico emerged with the tournament championship by shooting a 32-over 320 in the final round, defeating second-place Florida by one stroke. The Lobos finished with a 47-over 623 in the rain-shortened 36-hole event.
Reigning NCAA Champion Stacy Lewis of Arkansas took medalist honors after shooting a five-over 77 in round two, finishing with a seven-over 151 for the tournament. Lewis defeated Florida's Whitney Myers by one stroke.
As was the case in UT's previous six tournaments, senior Ashley Rollins (Austin, Texas/Westwood) landed Texas' top finish, as she tied for seventh overall after shooting an eight-over 80 on the day, finishing with a 12-over 156.
Junior Caney Hines (San Antonio, Texas) secured her first top-10 finish of the season, tying for 10th overall with a 10-over 82 on the day to finish the tournament with a 13-over 157. Walla (Aspen, Colo.) moved up 34 spots in the final round behind her six-over 78 to finish in a tie for 32nd with an 18-over 162 for the tournament.
Senior Julia Best (Bulverde, Texas) shot an 89 in the final round and tied for 38th place with a 19-over 163 over 36 holes. Sophomore Shannon Fish (Spring, Texas) carded a 10-over 82 to end the event tied for 51st place with a 21-over 165.
The Texas "B" team took 18th place with a 98-over 674. Sophomore Raelyn Smith (Odessa, Texas) led the "B" squad by tying for 38th overall with a 19-over 163 after shooting an 86 in the final round.
Texas resumes competition on Saturday, March 29 when it takes on Texas State in a one-day event in Austin.
Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational
3. TEXAS 308-322-630 (+54)
Texas Players
T7. Ashley Rollins 76-80-156 (+12)
T10. Caney Hines 75-82-157 (+13)
T32. Kristin Walla 84-78-162 (+18)
T38. Julia Best 74-89-163 (+19)
T51. Shannon Fish 83-82-165 (+21)
18. TEXAS "B" 331-343-674 (+98)
Texas Players
T38. Raelyn Smith 77-86-163 (+19)
T67. Erica Doody 80-89-169 (+25)
T74. Alex Richards 86-85-171 (+27)
T81. Arliss Hoy 89-85-174 (+30)
T85. Brittany Tomerlin 88-87-175 (+31)
POST-TOURNAMENT QUOTES
NEW MEXICO HEAD COACH JILL TRUJILLO
On her Lobos team winning the Betsy Rawls team title: Well, we were in the parking lot packing up the vans when we realized that we had won the Betsy Rawls -- we thought we were second, so it's a great feeling to realize that we won our first tournament of the year right now! All season long, our team has been fighting hard and we were able to pull through today. It was very difficult out there today, battling the heavy winds on this challenging championship course. We had such a great time and I want to give thanks to a wonderful grounds crew who was able to get the course in such great shape today after the heavy rains yesterday. Again, this is our first team win of the year and are excited that it happened on such a challenging and demanding course.
TEXAS HEAD COACH Martha Richards
Her general assessment of the tournament and of Texas' play: First, I want to thank everyone -- the players, coaches, staffs and volunteers -- for their patience as we dealt with some severe weather yesterday. Kudos to the UT Golf Club staff and grounds crew for a wonderful job in getting this course ready for today. We had an excellent field of teams, and everyone was really challenged the last few days, first with the rain delays and then today with the tremendous north winds that were blowing out here.
Given the conditions we played in, I saw a lot of good golf from our Texas team. As I told them before we began today, in this wind, just throw par worries out and play your game. When you take a great championship course like we have here at the UT Golf Club and add in a north wind blowing as hard as it did today, it makes for a challenge out there. To finish third as a team in this field is great. We know that we are even capable of playing even better golf than we showed today, so that's a positive as well.
Talking about the Texas players and their performances: In round one on Monday, we saw Ashley Rollins, Julia Best and Caney Hines have fantastic rounds. Yesterday was rained out and today, Shannon (Fish) played the second nine in plus two, which was a great finish. And, Kristin Walla shot a 78 today, an outstanding round in these conditions, and a round which I think is one of the top five turned in today.
Right now, we are seeing moments of really sold play and days where we are showing everyone that we are capable of playing golf with anyone. Right now, the challenge is for us to string these moments together. If we can do that, I think we can put some heat on some teams over the next two months.
On the UT Golf Club course: We were really pleased with the feedback we've received from the coaches and players here this week about our course. We are getting it ready to host the NCAA Regionals in early May. They've told us how impressed they are with the course and how challenging it is. This is the type of championship course which separates the players. No one will be able to sneak up and win a tournament here -- you have to play consistently and consistently well.
TEXAS SENIOR Ashley Rollins
On the team's third-place finish and her tie for seventh individually: We kept battling today as a team. It was hard for all the teams with the wind. Coach (Richards) told us to just get out there and play `Texas tough' and give it our all and not to worry about par. Playing on a course as challenging as this is just makes tournaments more fun.
We are taking some momentum with us after our third-place finish. Next, we go to the Indiana Invitational (Carmel, Ind.) before the Big 12s. We have a good team feeling right now, a good vibe, heading into the Indiana tournament and hopefully we can finish strong in April and get back here to play in the regionals next month.
TEXAS JUNIOR Caney Hines
On her performance: Today, the conditions were tough out there so that is reflected in everyone's scores. As a team, we hung in there. We are good with our finish, but we know that we have some things to improve on, such as staying more patient as a team. Me in particular, I know I need to work on my short game. I'm pleased with placing in the top 10 for the first time this year, but I still have lots to work on.
On UT's outlook after the third-place finish and how this will help the team down the line: It definitely was our goal coming in to the Betsy Rawls to finish in the top three as a team. We will use this performance to hopefully help us as we look to the Big 12 Championship and onto the NCAA Regionals, which we host here at the UT Club. I know it's tough to play on your own home course in the postseason, but I think finishing third here today will give us some confidence. This field gave us a chance to play in a pressure-like situation like we will face in the regionals.
