May 7, 2004
NORMAL, Ill. –
The fourth-seeded New Mexico women’s golf team dropped from a share of the lead to a three-way tie for seventh place during the second day of the NCAA Central Regional Championships after shooting a 36-over 320 Friday afternoon. Overall, the Lobos are tied with SMU and Northwestern for seventh place with a score of 298-320–618 (+50). New Mexico needs to place in the top eight at the three-day event to advance to the NCAA Championships May 18-21 in Auburn, Alabama. If necessary, ties will be broken by a playoff. The final round of the regional, held at the par-71, 6,500-yard University Golf Course at Illinois State University, will take place Saturday.
Third-seeded Vanderbilt and Michigan State lead the field after two rounds with a 37-over 605.
Individually for the Lobos, junior Kailin Downs leads UNM with a score of 73-81–154 (+12), which is good for 20th place. Freshman Ashley Rollins is one stroke behind Downs at 73-82–155 (+13) to sit in a tie for 28th.
Senior Katrina Leckovic and sophomore Christine Fernandez again posted identical scores, this time with an 80 in the second round to stand at 76-80–156 (+14) overall. Leckovic and Fernandez are both tied for 38th place. Junior Shannon Johnson is in a tie for 64th with a score of 81-79–160 (+18).
Erica Blasberg of Arizona sits atop the individual scoreboard with a 68-73–141 (-1).
The NCAA Central Regional Championships will conclude tomorrow. Live stats of the tournament are available at www.GolfStat.com and www.Redbirds.org.
TOP EIGHT TEAMS AFTER TWO ROUNDS
T1. Vanderbilt 298-307--605 (+37) T1. Michigan State 302-303--605 (+37) 3. Baylor 312-297--609 (+41) 4. Southern California 300-311--611 (+43) 5. Arizona 299-313--612 (+44) 6. Purdue 305-309--614 (+46) T7. New Mexico 298-320--618 (+50) T7. SMU 316-302--618 (+50) T7. Northwestern 313-305--618 (+50)