Arizona Women's Golf Two Shots Off Lead After Day One of NCAA Preview
Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. (Sept. 15, 2000) -- The top-ranked Arizona Wildcats women's golf team battled extremely hot and humid conditions to shoot a 10-over par 298 in the first round of the NCAA Preview at El Campeon Golf Course in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.
Arizona trails tournament leader Duke by two shots heading into tomorrow's action. The Wildcats are competing for the first time under new head coach Greg Allen.
"All the girls felt like they lost a couple shots to the course today," said Allen. "We're only two shots back, we can make that up pretty easily. They've come from behind before, these girls are comfortable right where they are. We are right in position to win, that's all we can ask for."
Individually, three Arizona golfers are in the top 10. Junior Cristina Baena led the way for the Wildcats, shooting a one-under-par 71. Baena's 71 earns her a tie for first place with Katy Harris of Louisiana State. Also in the top 10 for the Wildcats were freshman Lorena Ochoa at eighth and redshirt sophomore Laura Myerscough in a tie for ninth place.
Ochoa fired a one-over-par 73 in her first round of collegiate golf. Myerscough, coming off a summer that saw her advance to the championship match of the U.S. Women's Amateur, shot 74 and finds herself knotted with six other golfers in ninth place. Nancy Abiecunas, another freshman in her first competition with the Wildcats, shot an 80. Christina Monteiro, the team's lone senior competing this weekend, also shot an eight-over-par 80.
Two strokes back of the Wildcats in a tie for third are No. 4 Southern California, No. 5 Auburn, and No. 14 Wake Forest.
Play continues tomorrow at 8 a.m. EDT at El Campeon. A win for Arizona would extend its consecutive tournament winning streak to nine victories dating back to October 25, 1999.
Fin. School Score Fin. Name School Score 1 Duke 296 (+8) T1 CRISTINA BAENA Arizona 71 (-1) 2 ARIZONA 298 (+10) T1 Katy Harris LSU 71 (-1) T3 USC 300 (+12) T3 Leigh Anne Hardin Duke 72 (E) Auburn 300 (+12) Brittany Straza Florida 72 (E) Wake Forest 300 (+12) Amanda Sutcliffe Nebraska 72 (E) Marta Prieto Wake Forest 72 (E) Maria Beautell Wake Forest 72 (E) 2 ARIZONA 298 (+10) T1 CRISTINA BAENA 71 (-1) 8 LORENA OCHOA 73 (+1) T9 LAURA MYERSCOUGH 74 (+2) T66 CHRISTINA MONTEIRO 80 (+8) T66 NANCY ABIECUNAS 80 (+8)
