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Stevens: Jodi Ewart Feature
May 20, 2010
Wilmington, N.C. – It was better than yesterday, but at the same time, “what if,” for the New Mexico Lobos at the NCAA Women’s Golf Championships.
UNM shaved seven shots off its opening round score by posting an 8-over 296 today at the Country Club of Landfall Dye Course (par 72, 6,368 yards). In the process, New Mexico moved from 22nd place into a tie for 15th at the halfway point of the Championships. The Lobos have a 36-hole total of 599 (303-296).
Due to weather delays, six teams could not complete the second round. Florida State, Kent State, Stanford, TCU, Texas A&M and Tulane will finish their second round Thursday morning at 5:30 a.m. MT. The third round will begin shortly thereafter. UNM will most likely tee off from No. 10 at approximately 8:30 a.m. MT.
For New Mexico, an even higher position in the 24-team field evaporated coming home as its top three golfers – Jodi Ewart, Rebecca Hellbom and Britney Choy – all dropped two shots over the last four holes, including three on No. 18.
“All in all it was a really good day. We had it going,” said head coach Jill Trujillo. “We’re just constantly, constantly working on our last three and four holes and it just got us today. We shot 8-over and six of those shots for the counters were on the last four holes.”
Southern California continues to lead the championship. USC is at 570 and has a seven-shot lead over Alabama (577) and is eight strokes ahead of Purdue (578).
The second round was interrupted twice by rain and lightning delays in the afternoon, and eventually suspended at 7:27 p.m. local time. The delays totaled 1 hour and 47 minutes.
UNM senior Jodi Ewart’s play in the early going was worthy of her No. 4 national ranking. On the par-4 third hole, she deposited a chip from 100 feet away for a birdie. Consecutive birdies at 9 and 10 placed Ewart at 4 under on the round, and she seemed poised to threaten the school scoring record of 66.
“I should have been 6 under,” quipped Ewart of her first 10 holes.
She gave back a shot with a bogey at 11, but rolled in a birdie putt at 15 to get back to 3 under for the tournament and rank among the leaders. That’s when the emotional roller coaster began in harrowing fashion.
On the par-3 16th that was playing into the wind and lined with water along the right side, Ewart did not get enough club on the tee shot. The result was a rare miss that landed in the water hazard short of the green. She absorbed a penalty stroke and finished with a double bogey 5.
Ewart was just getting ready to attempt a birdie putt on the par-4 17th when the sirens sounded at 1:49 p.m. locally for the first weather delay. When play resumed 58 minutes later, Ewart calmly sank a tricky downhill 15-footer to get back to 3-under on the day.
A solid drive and approach left Ewart with a 70-yard pitch on her third shot at the par-5 18th. Inexplicably, Ewart chunked the shot about 20 yards but was still hopeful of getting up and down to save par.
Staring at a massive mound in front of the green and then another 60 feet uphill to the hole, Ewart chose to putt her fourth shot. She left it well short, and needed three more putts to close the day with her second double bogey in the final three holes.
“I lost a chance at the national championship,” a visibly distraught Ewart said of her last three holes.
Ewart still finished with a 1 under 71 for her best 18 holes in 10 career rounds at the NCAA Championships. She is at even-par 144, which is the lowest 36-hole score by a Lobo at the NCAA Championships in 12 years, since Ryley Webb was at 138 (68-70) at University Ridge GC in Wisconsin in 1998. Ewart is tied for 11th, seven strokes behind the leaders.
Arizona State freshman sensation Jennifer Johnson shot 70, and holds a one-stroke lead over Southern Cal’s Jennifer Song. Johnson is at 137 (67-70).
Lobo senior Britney Choy had a similar fate as Ewart. Choy was 1 over on the day after a birdie at 14. She bogeyed 15, but was in good shape to get it back after two solid shots at 18 left her in front of the green when play was suspended.
When play resumed, Choy’s chip was well short and then it took her three putts to get down for a bogey 6 and a round of 75. After getting up and down eight times in nine opportunities in the first round, Choy had four three-putts today. She is at 149 (74-75).
Sophomore Rebecca Hellbom did rebound from a first-round 80 to shoot 76; however, she bogeyed the last two par-4s.
Sophomore Sarah Salvo was very consistent with a birdie and two bogeys on each side, finishing with a 74 (37-37). Her 36-hole total is 152 (78-74).
“I definitely didn’t lose my head like I did yesterday,” said Salvo. “My pace was good and my putting cooperated.”
Freshman Bethany Buchner is at 155 (78-77).
On Thursday and Friday, fans can watch live streaming from the closing three holes at NCAA.com.