May 12, 2006
The 23rd-ranked New Mexico women’s golf team had a tough go of it today in the second round of the NCAA West Regional being played at the Washington National Golf Club (par 72, 6,289 yards) in suburban Seattle. UNM shot a 30-over 318 for a two-round total of 625, which puts them in 15th place going into Saturday’s final round.
The top eight finishers in the 21-team field advance to the NCAA Championships May 23-26 at Ohio State. Final round play begins tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. MDT. Live stats and results are available at www.golfstat.com.
New Mexico entered the second round just five shots out of eighth place after shooting 307 yesterday, but now the margin is 19. Arkansas is eighth at 606. Purdue is the team leader at 583.
Starting at the No. 10 tee today, the Lobos were close to the cut line before playing the final two holes in 7-over.
Freshman Py Bengtsson had UNM’s low round of the day with a 5-over 77. Bengtsson and sophomore Alexandra Phelps are both at 12-over 156.
Phelps had the Lobos’ low score yesterday – a 2-over 74 – but had the worst score today with a 10-over 82. After a birdie on No. 11, Phelps went triple bogey, double bogey, on the next two holes, shot 43 on the front, and never recovered.
Freshmen Mikaela Backstedt and Morgan Grantham are both at 13-over 157. Backstedt closed with a bogey and a double bogey for an 81, only the second time in 29 rounds this season she has shot higher than 77.
Sophomore Giselle Claux shot a 9-over 81 for the second straight day. She’s at 162.