The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
NCAA West Regional Championship
No. 17-seed Women's Golf in position to make second-straight NCAA Championship
05.08.2009 | Women's Golf
May 8, 2009
Day Two Results
TEMPE, Ariz. -- The No. 17-seed University of Texas Women's Golf team carded a second-round 2-over-par 290 (288-290=578, +2) to stand in fourth place at 2-over 578 on the NCAA West Regional Championship leaderboard. Three Longhorns recorded scorecards of even par on the second day of action at the Karsten Golf Course on the campus of Arizona State University to put Texas in contention for its' second-consecutive NCAA Championship.
Texas played the course from start to finish Friday morning, as they began the second round on the first hole. The Longhorns' top-four scorers combined for four birdies - exactly one each - and as many bogeys on the front nine. Freshman Nicole Vandermade (74-72=146, +2) was UT's lone individual to make the turn at 1-under par, while seniors Kelley Louth (72-72=144, E) and Kristin Walla (70-72=142, -2) were even through nine holes.
With temperatures rising near the 100-degree mark, Walla led Texas on the back with an even-par scorecard that was spotless, while Vandermade found a second birdie on the 14th hole before she closed with back-to-back bogeys on 17 and 18 to finish the day at even. Louth balanced bogeys on the 16th and 18th holes with birdies on 10 and 14 to result in her par scorecard.
Walla is in position to secure her best tournament finish of the season and is tied for eighth place after 36 holes at 2-under 142. Louth is two strokes back and tied for 13th place, while Vandermade and junior Shannon Fish (72-74=146, +2) are tied for 26th at 2-over 146. Senior Caney Hines (77-82=159, +15) rounds out the Longhorns at 15-over and is tied for 94th place.
Top-seeded Arizona State (273-283=556, -20) built upon its first-round lead with a 5-under 283 on Friday afternoon and holds a 16-stroke lead over current runner-up Southern California (289-283=572, -4). UC Irvine (289-284=573, -3) is in third place at 3-under 573 and holds a five-stroke advantage over fourth-place Texas.
The Sun Devils' Carlota Ciganda (67-68=135, -9) has a narrow one-stroke margin over UC Irvine's Jane Chin (67-69=136, -8) and Southern California's Belen Mozo (66-70=136, -8) in the individual standings.
The top-eight team finishers and top-two individuals not playing on the eight qualifying teams will earn bids to compete at the 2009 NCAA Women's Golf Championship from May 19-22 at the Caves Valley Golf Club in Owing Mills, Md., hosted by Georgetown.
The Longhorns will begin Saturday's final round on the 10th hole at 7:10 a.m. (9:10 a.m. ET) and be paired alongside TCU and LSU.
POST-ROUND QUOTES
Head Coach Martha Richards
On the team's overall performance: We were very composed and competed very hard for all 18 holes. We were on a roll there for awhile, but when we hit (holes) 15 through 18, we gave a few back. On a whole, though, it was a very good day. Everyone just seemed comfortable on this course.
On the team chemistry: This group truly feels that they are capable of this kind of golf. We had a long talk before we left, and we discussed how it doesn't matter where you're seeded for these events. When you get here, you're all really at zero. We're a better team than we've shown, and it's just been a matter of when we're going to step up and display that. This group likes this golf course, and they like to step it up and show everyone what they're capable of.
On Saturday's final round: We can't make tomorrow more important than it really is. For us, it's still about the same thing - we're going hunting. We weren't one of the teams expected to make it through, but we think we're capable of it and we've got a tremendous amount of belief in ourselves. It's the same business for us tomorrow. We're going out there to play this golf course and play it to the best of our abilities. I still think our best team golf is still out there.
