Youthful Arizona Women's Golf Lineup in First After Round Two of Regional Challenge
PALOS VERDES, Calif. - An Arizona women's golf lineup composed of all freshmen and sophomores battled cold and rainy conditions today and currently stands in first place at the TRW Regional Challenge in Palos Verdes, Calif. after two rounds with a score of 582, 11 strokes ahead of second-place New Mexico State.
"We went into today, with the weather situation being the way it was, not knowing if we could finish," head coach Greg Allen said. "We wanted to finish today's play in a position to win the golf tournament, if we only played 36 holes or the entire 54."
The Wildcats wrapped up yesterday's suspended round early this morning, finishing with a first round score of 293. Arizona then proceeded to shoot the low round of the tournament in today's second round with a team total of 289.
Three Wildcats are in the top-10 individually, including Arizona freshmen Natalie Gulbis and Lorena Ochoa, who are Nos. 1 and 2. Gulbis fired a second round of 69 to assume the individual lead with a two-day total of 141 (-1). An individual championship for Gulbis would be the first of her career. Ochoa, who is seeking her third individual title of the season and her career, stands in second place with a two-day score of 143 (+1).
In just her first competition since last year's NCAA Championships, sophomore Julia Kraschinski carded rounds of 73 and 75 to come in tied for eighth place at six-over-par. Kraschinski has been out of action due to serious disc problems in her back.
"Julia showed a lot of heart with her physical condition and having to battle this type of weather in her first competition back," Allen said of the runner-up at last year's NCAA Championships.
Also competing for the Wildcats were sophomores Laura Myerscough and Anne Lee. Both shot second rounds of 75. Myerscough currently stands tied for 15th and Lee is tied for 24th.
"Going into tomorrow, that (11 strokes ahead) is a good place to be," Allen commented. "But we've still got a lot of work to do."
The tournament wraps up action tomorrow with the third round beginning at 8:30 a.m. Arizona is shooting for its third tournament championship of the season and its first of the spring.
Place School Score Place Golfer School Score 1 ARIZONA 293-289=582 1 Natalie Gulbis ARIZONA 72-69=141 (-1) 2 New Mexico St 289-304=593 2 Lorena Ochoa ARIZONA 73-70=143 (+1) 3 Tulsa 304-292=596 T3 S Prammanasudh Tulsa 75-70=145 (+3) 4 Texas 302-301=603 Alena Sharp New Mexico St 73-72=145 (+3) 5 Southern Cal 305-301=606 T5 Candie Kung Southern Cal 75-72=147 (+5) Maiko Senda Tulsa 72-75=147 (+5) Anna Rawson Southern Cal 75-72=147 (+5) Place Arizona Golfer Score 1 Natalie Gulbis 72-69=141 (-1) 2 Lorena Ochoa 73-70=143 (+1) T8 J Kraschinski 73-75=148 (+6) T15 L Myerscough 75-75=150 (+8) T24 Anne Lee 77-75=152 (+10)
