Razorback women's golf wraps up season

FRANKLIN, Tenn. – Golf is a marathon, not a sprint, and the University of Arkansas women’s golf team needed every drop in the tank to survive the grueling four-day 2012 NCAA Championship in Franklin, Tenn., this week.

Conditions were tough all week with high temperatures reaching the 90s and fast, hard greens that were a challenge to read.

Arkansas, ranked No. 34 in this week’s Golfstat.com, rankings, finished 23rd shooting a four-day 1214 with rounds of 303-301-209-301 at Vanderbilt University’s Legends Course just outside of Nashville, Tenn.

“It was a little better today,” Arkansas head coach Shauna Estes-Taylor said, “but we were in a position that it was really hard to climb out of.  But as always, being in a National Championship is an amazing experience.  It’s an opportunity for this team to grow.  We have no seniors and when I really look back on it, this group had an amazing experience this week.  They have learned a lot from it and will grow.”

The Razorbacks finished 23rd overall with a 1214 that included rounds of 303-301-309-301.  They were 62 strokes over on the par 72, 6,264 yard course for the week.

Individually, the Razorbacks were paced by sophomore Emily Tubert who finished eight-over with 296.  Tubert shot 73-74-77-72 over the four days.  The Burbank, Calif., native birdied No. 9 all four rounds and birdied No. 7 three times.  She played the front nine holes even for the week and the back nine plus eight.

Emma Lavy finished with a 303 with rounds of 75-77-78-73.  The Fayetteville, Ark., native birdied No. 7 three of the four days.

Sophomore Emily Podzielinski took part in her first collegiate NCAA Championship shooting 305 with rounds of 78-72-76-79.  Junior Victoria Vela carded a 312 shooting 77-78-78-79 and freshman Hally Leadbetter rounded out the Razorback scoring shooitng 315 with rounds of 79-80-79-77.

“To have this experience two years in a row is a special thing,” said Estes-Taylor.  “The more we can be here the more we learn and grow as a team.”

Arkansas was making its fifth NCAA Championship appearance and it’s second consecutive.  Arkansas finished a program-best tied for fifth last year.