The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Big 12 Championship
Fish fires 2-over 75 in second round of Big 12 Women's Golf Championship
04.25.2009 | Women's Golf
April 25, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas -- Junior Shannon Fish (82-75=157, +11) led The University of Texas Women's Golf team on the second day of the Big 12 Championship with a 2-over-par 75, improving her from a tie for 39th place after the first round to a tie for 24th. As a team, the Longhorns (321-308=629, +45) shaved 13 strokes off of Friday's round and finished the day at 16-over 308, good for a two-way tie for eighth place with Nebraska entering Sunday's final round.
Fish opened her second round with a bogey-birdie combination, and continued that trend throughout most of her round. She alternated bogeys and birdies for six-straight holes - the 14th through first, her sixth through 10th holes - to stand at even par. Ensuing bogeys on the fourth and sixth holes of the par-73, 6,564-yard The Rawls Course pushed Fish to 2-over where she remained after making her fifth birdie of the day on the seventh hole and a final bogey on eight. Fish's 3-over 75 was seven strokes better than her opening-round 82 that included three double bogeys.
Freshman Nicole Vandermade (80-77=157) is tied for 24th place with Fish at 11-over after carding two birdies, two bogeys and two double bogeys in her second round. Senior Kelley Louth (77-81=159, +13) fell from a tie for 11th place after the first day to a tie for 32nd after recording an 8-over 81 on Saturday. Senior Caney Hines (84-76=160, +14) is one stroke behind Louth and tied for 38th place, while senior Kristin Walla (82-80=162, +16) rounds out the Longhorns at 16-over 162 and tied for 45th.
Scoring conditions improved on Saturday as the average score dropped from 79.75 on Friday to 78.08. Five players carded even-par 73, including Texas A&M's Ashley Freeman (72-73=145, -1), who shares the lead with Oklahoma State's Caroline Hedwall (70-75=145, -1). Three players are tied for third place at 2-over 148.
In the team standings, Oklahoma State (295-302=597, +13) maintained its first-round lead and holds a six-stroke advantage over current runner-up Texas A&M (304-299=603, +19). Oklahoma (315-306=621, +37) is in third place at 37-over 621.
Sunday's final round of the Big 12 Women's Championship will commence at 8 a.m. Central in a split-tee format off the first and 10th tees. Texas will begin tomorrow's round on the 10th tee and be paired with Missouri and Nebraska.
TEXAS
T24. Shannon Fish, 82-75=157 (+11)
T24. Nicole Vandermade, 80-77=157 (+11)
T32. Kelley Louth, 77-81=159 (+13)
T38. Caney Hines, 84-76=160 (+14)
T45. Kristin Walla, 82-80=162 (+16)
TEAM STANDINGS
1. Oklahoma State, 295-302=597 (+13)
2. Texas A&M, 304-299=603 (+19)
3. Oklahoma, 315-306=621 (+37)
T4. Kansas, 312-310=622 (+38)
T4. Kansas State, 311-311=622 (+38)
T4. Colorado, 317-305=622 (+38)
7. Missouri, 317-311=628 (+44)
T8. TEXAS, 321-308=629 (+45)
T8. Nebraska, 315-314=629 (+45)
10. Baylor, 322-313=635 (+51)
11. Texas Tech, 326-312=638 (+54)
12. Iowa State, 325-315=640 (+56)
TOP FIVE PLAYERS
T1. Ashley Freeman, Texas A&M, 72-73=145 (-1)
T1. Caroline Hedwall, Oklahoma State, 70-75=145 (-1)
T3. Charlotte Wender, Nebraska, 75-73=148 (+2)
T3. Amanda Johnson, Oklahoma State, 73-75=148 (+2)
T3. Pernilla Lindberg, Oklahoma State, 73-75=148 (+2)
POST-ROUND QUOTES
Head Coach Martha Richards
On the team's overall performance: We're still giving away too many strokes on holes where we have an advantage - our par-5 play has not been very good at all, specifically. If we do a better job on our management of the par 5s tomorrow, we'll be able to keep improving.
On the play of junior Shannon Fish: Shannon did a really great job today. She was just very consistent and composed, much more so than yesterday. She had some terrific recovery shots when she was in trouble, including a great par save on the 13th hole.
On finishing strong on Sunday: We just have to take better advantage of our opportunities tomorrow. We haven't capitalized on walking through the door when it's been wide open for us, metaphorically speaking. No one can make us walk through that door, you have to choose to do that, and hopefully tomorrow we continue to make our own opportunities and seize them.
