BEND, Ore. ?- After a forty-five minute delay due to frost the Arizona women's golf team is in seventh at the NCAA Fall Preview Monday after its first day of competition in Bend, Ore.
The Wildcats shot a 10-over-par 294 to trail tournament leader Duke by 11 strokes after the Blue Devils shot a 1-under-par 283. Washington is in second after carding a 1-over-par 285. Georgia (286) is in third and New Mexico (287) occupies the fourth position. Oklahoma State rounds out the top-five after shooting a 5-over-par 289.
“Everyone in front of us had someone shot under-par, so for us to finish seventh today we know it was a solid team effort,” Head Coach Greg Allen said. “We know what we have to do tomorrow. We will go out and work hard tomorrow.”
Individually, junior Cassandra Kirkland leads the Wildcats tied for 16th after shooting a 1-over-par 72 in round one. The native of Saint-Nom-La-Breteche, France placed third in last year’s NCAA Fall Preview after she shot a career low tournament 215 (-1).
“Cassandra played well,” Allen said. “ She birded the seventh, then struggled a bit on the back nine. But she hung in there and birded the 17th and made par on the 18th.”
Junior Lani Elston and junior Whitney Welch are tied in 22nd after shooting 2-over-par 73. Senior Mar Garcia is tied for 59th at 5-over-par 76. Senior Miriam Kraschinski is tied for 65th place after shooting 6-over-par 77 in round one.
The Wildcats will tee off in the second round on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. PST. The tournament is being held at The Sunriver Resort’s Meadows Golf Course, Par 71 over a 6,300-yard layout.
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Place School Score Place Name, School Scores
1. Duke 283 (-1) 1. Brittany Lang, Duke 64 (-7)
2. Washington 285 (+1) T2. Karin Sjodin, Oklahoma St. 67 (-4)
3. Georiga 286 (+2) T2. Kristen White, Ohio St. 67 (-4)
4. New Mexico 287 (+3) T4. Christine Fernadez, NMU 68 (-3)
5. Oklahoma St. 289 (+5) T4. Paige Mackenzie, UW 68 (-3)
6. Arizona St. 292 (+8) T4. Allison Martin, Gerogia 68 (-3)
7. ARIZONA 294 (+10) T4. Louise Stahle, Arizona St. 68 (-3)
Place Arizona Golfer Score
T16. Cassandra Kirkland 72 (+1)
T22. Lani Elston 73 (+2)
T22. Whitney Welch 73 (+2)
T59. Mar Garcia 76 (+5)
T65. Miriam Kraschinski 77 (+6)
Notes: ...Senior Mar Garcia had not seen the golf course before Monday’s round. Garcia got in late last night after spending the later part of last week at the Ryder Cup with her brother, PGA tour member Sergio Garcia...Garcia made a 150-yard eagle on hole 6...Junior Whitney Welch (73) shot her best round since participating this summer in the U.S. Women’s Amateur...The weather in Bend, Ore. is much cooler than Tucson. The temperature will range in the high 60s through the remainder of the tournament...