Chattanooga in Ninth Heading into Final Round at NCAA Central Regional

Seniors Emma de Groot and Christine Wolf led the Mocs with twin 76s on a stingy Warren Golf Course

NOTRE DAME, Ind. --- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's golf team is in ninth place after 36 holes at the NCAA Central Regional at Warren Golf Course Friday.  Chattanooga's 309 today gives it a two-day total of 612.

The Mocs are two shots behind eighth-place Arkansas at 610.  The top eight teams advance to the NCAA Championship May 17-20 at Traditions Golf Club in Bryan, Texas.

"We just couldn't get anything going today," said head coach Colette Murray.  "No one was able to really post a score.  Minnesota was the only team to break 300 so it was a tough day overall.

"There are seven teams within nine strokes of each other for the eighth spot," Murray added.  "We're just four shots behind sixth place. Tomorrow is going to be an exciting day for a lot of teams."

Christine Wolf (Igls, Austria) and Emma de Groot (Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia) led the Mocs with twin rounds of 76 (+4).  That moves Wolf into a tie for 21st at 151, while de Groot is tied for 39th at 153.

Maria Juliana Loza is tied with Wolf in 21st shooting six-over par 78 today.  Jordan Britt (Chattanooga, Tenn.) rounded out the team scoring with a 79 (+7).  Marion Duvernay (Publier, France) had the drop score with an 80 (+8).

No. 2 UCLA leads at 592 (+16).  The Bruins shot 301 in round two and lead No. 8 LSU and Minnesota by six shots as the duo is tied for second at 598.  Host Notre Dame is fourth with a 36-hole total of 603.

Emily Tubert of Arkansas leads the medalist chase at level par 144 after today's 75 (+3). Ani Gulugian (UCLA) is second at 145 (+5). Austin Ernst (LSU) and Samantha Sommers (Minnesota) are tied for third at plus two (146).

Arkansas holds the coveted eighth spot at 610 with the Mocs just two shots behind the Razorbacks in ninth.  Ohio State is fifth just five shots ahead of UTC and one stroke clear of No. 24 Stanford and Northwestern in sixth.

No. 17 Texas is in 10th, one behind the Mocs.  Kent State and No. 14 Tulane are tied for 11th at 615 which is one shot in front of No. 5 Duke and No. 15 Wake Forest in 13th.

"It will be a shootout tomorrow," Murray concluded.  "That's 10 teams within nine shots playing for four spots.  We need to take advantage of our opportunities."

Chattanooga returns to the No. 1 tee at 8 a.m., Saturday morning paired with Stanford and Arkansas.  Britt leads off followed by Duvernay, de Groot, Wolf and Loza.  Live scoring can be accessed on GoMocs.com at the link above or through the women's golf schedule page.

LEADERBOARD

1) No. 2 UCLA	291-301	592 (+16)
T2) No. 8 LSU	295-303	598 (+22)
T2) Minnesota	301-297	598 (+22)
4) Notre Dame	298-305	603 (+27)
5) Ohio State	306-301	607 (+31)
T6) Northwestern	302-306	608 (+32)
T6) No. 24 Stanford	302-306	608 (+32)
8) No. 11 Arkansas	307-303	610 (+34)
9) Chattanooga	303-309	612 (+36)
10) No. 17 Texas	306-307	613 (+37)
T11) Kent State	304-311	615 (+39)
T11) No. 14 Tulane	313-302	615 (+39)
T13) No. 5 Duke	302-314	616 (+40)
T13) No. 15 Wake Forest	312-304	616 (+40)
15) Wisconsin	314-305	619 (+43)
16) Illinois	313-309	622 (+46)
17) Michigan	316-307	623 (+47)
18) Oklahoma State	312-312	624 (+48)
19) North Texas	311-314	625 (+49)
20) East Carolina	315-316	631 (+55)
21) Butler	316-325	641 (+65)
22) UNLV	318-325	643 (+67)
23) Morehead State	319-326	645 (+69)
24) Illinois State	329-317	646 (+70)
Mocs:
T21) Maria Juliana Loza	73-78	151 (+7)
T21) Christine Wolf	75-76	151 (+7)
T39) Emma de Groot	77-76	153 (+9)
T75) Marion Duvernay	78-80	158 (+14)
T106) Jordan Britt	84-79	163 (+19)

 

 

Kenoyer Shoots Second Round 78 At NCAA East Regional

Daytona Beach, Fla. -- Paladins senior Stefanie Kenoyer shot a second round 78 on Friday afternoon and slipped to a share of 38th place after 36 holes in the NCAA Women's Golf East Regional at the LPGA International's par-72 Legends Course in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The Lighthouse Point, Fla., native opened her round with back-to-back pars before settling for a double bogey at the par-three, No. 12 and a bogey at No. 13.  After her only birdie of the day on the next hole, she played the final 13 holes at four-over to finish with a six-over 78.

Kenoyer (+5) trails tournament leader Stephanie Meadow (-6) of Alabama by 11 strokes, but is just five strokes out of ninth place with 18 holes to play.

"I struggled and couldn't really get my momentum going but I know I can put a good round together tomorrow," said Kenoyer, who is making her fourth straight NCAA Regional appearance.

Final round action is scheduled for Saturday morning with Kenoyer set to tee-off from the No. 1 tee at 8:55 a.m.  The top eight teams in the 24-team field and top two individuals not on a qualifying team will advance to the NCAA Championship May 18-21, at the Traditions Club in Bryan, Texas.

Kenoyer, a native of Lighthouse Point, Fla., led Furman with a 75.6 stroke average over 23 rounds during the 2010-11 season.  She garnered one top-five and two top-10 finishes while helping the Paladins to a No. 62 national ranking according to GolfStat.com.

A 2008 and 2009 SoCon individual medalist, Kenoyer captured SoCon Player of the Year honors in both 2009 and 2010.  She is a three-time National Golf Coaches Association All-Scholar Team member and received Furman's annual Student-Athlete Achievement Award last month.

Furman fans can follow Kenoyer's quest to earn a berth in the NCAA Championships through live scoring of the 2011 NCAA East Regional at www.FurmanPaladins.com and www.GolfStatResults.com.

 

Whittaker Continues Play at NCAA Regional Championship

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Junior Leigh Whittaker improved on her first round score of 79 as she fired a 76 in round two at the NCAA Women's Golf East Regional Championship Friday at LPGA International.

Whittaker, who has a two round score of 155 (+ 11), was very consistent all day as she shot even-par on 15 holes and had many birdie opportunities.

CofC Head Coach Jamie Futrell said Whittaker hit the ball better today than she has in a long time.

Whittaker will tee off tomorrow morning at 8:55 AM in the last round of the tournament.