Tubert third, Arkansas runner up

RELATED LINKS

SEC Women's Golf Highlights: Day 3

Shauna Estes-Taylor Interview Following The Final Round of the SEC Championship

Emly Tubert Interview Following The Final Round of SEC Golf Championship

Photo Gallery

FAYETTEVILLE – Sophomore Emily Tubert fired a final round73 finishing third overall leading the No. 36 University of Arkansas women’s golf team to a runner-up finish at the 2012 Southeastern Conference Championship at Blessings Sunday.

The Razorbacks finished the round with dramatic flair nearly forcing a playoff after regulation.  The lead see-sawed most of the day between the Razorbacks, No. 2 Alabama and No. 5 Auburn who were all paired together for the final round.

Arkansas had as much as a six stroke lead with three holes to play but the Razorbacks were 11-over coming into the clubhouse.  Auburn was plus-seven in the same stretch hanging on to win with a par putt by the Tigers’ final player on 18.

“It is a little bittersweet right now,” said Arkansas head coach Shauna Estes-Taylor.  “This group has put in so much hard work this year and this was one of our main goals to be able to compete in front of our home fans and win a championship. To fall one shot short after hitting 800 plus shots is disappointing.  There is truly no lead out here and you are always just one shot away from a big number.”

The Razorbacks also finished second overall in 2008 and tied for second in 2009.

Arkansas finished the day shooting a 25-over 313 in some of the toughest conditions Estes-Taylor has seen at the golf course.  Winds gusting to 30 miles an hour impacted players’ drives off the tees but was also moving balls on the very fast greens in the final round.

Despite that, the Razorbacks were in the hunt until the final putt fell finishing with a three-day 917 with rounds of 309-295-313.

Tubert rallied from a first-day 78 shooting 70-73 for a 221, just two strokes behind medalist Patricia Sanz from Auburn.  The Burbank, Calif., native turned even and finished the day with three birdies and four bogeys Sunday.

Sophomore Emma Lavy finished tied for sixth overall shooting a 288 for the three-day event. Lavy was the Razorbacks’ leader the first round rounds going 73-72 but struggled with an 83 in the final round for 228.

Sophomore Emily Podzielinski tied for 17th in her first SEC Championship.  She posted rounds of 81-77-74 for 232.  Podzielinski gave Arkansas a chance with dramatic shot on 18 with the Razorback-friendly gallery watching.  After hitting left into the rough, she punched out across the green with a shot that seemed to be to the right.      The angle was perfect and she holed out from 91 yards for a birdie on her last hole.

Junior Victoria Vela finished tied for 34th overall shooting 239 and freshman Hally Leadbetter tied for 53rd with 250 in her first SEC Championship.

“Yes, of course we are disappointed now,” Estes-Taylor said, “but we have to regroup.  We have a lot of postseason left and we still have a lot of goals within our reach.”

The Tigers won the event with a final round 313 for 916.  Five of the 12 SEC teams shot 313 on the last day.

Arkansas was second with 917 followed by No. 2 Alabama with 922.  Fifteenth-ranked Florida was third with 925, No. 9 Georgia was fifth with 933, No. 24 South Carolina was sixth with 936, No. 7 LSU was seventh with 937, No. 10 Vanderbilt moved up to eighth with a 940, No. 41 Kentucky was ninth with 946, No. 39 Ole Miss was 10th with 950, No. 13 Tennessee was 11th with 951 and Mississippi State rounded out the field in 12th place with a 974.   

The Razorbacks now await word of a likely selection to the NCAA Regional Championships at one of three possible sites.  NCAA Regionals begin May 10-12, at either Penn State for the East, Ohio State for the Central or Colorado Nationals Golf Club for the West.