Razorbacks look to move in final round

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The University of Arkansas women’s golf team entered play Friday with moving on their minds but steady play by all 24 teams in the 2012 NCAA Central Regional in Columbus, Ohio, made that task difficult in second round action.

Arkansas, ranked No. 34 in the most recent Golfstat.com poll, shaved two strokes off its first round score posting a 308, slightly better than the first round 310 for a 618 and sole possession of 12th place.  The Razorbacks are just outside one of the coveted top eight positions with those teams moving on to the NCAA Championship in Nashville, Tenn., at the end of May.

Although outside the cut at the end of the day Friday, Arkansas is very much within striking distance of advancing.  The Razorbacks are just six strokes back of No. 16 and host Ohio State who is in the clubhouse at 612.  In addition, just 10 strokes separate No. 21 Oregon and No. 33 Purdue in fourth place from the Razorbacks in 12th in the bunched up field.

“We had some moments of some great golf out there,” said Arkansas head coach Shauna Estes-Taylor.  “We let a few opportunities slide away coming down the stretch but we are in a position to strike.  This is a great golf course to make up some strokes and we have the ability to do that.

“We have two rounds in on this golf course and the team is smarter and more prepared to make a move,” Estes-Taylor said.

Sophomore Emily Tubert remains the Razorbacks’ individual leader with a two-round 150 to tie for 13th.  Tubert posted back-to-back 75s with a pair of scorecards that include three birdies and nine bogeys over two days.

Sophomore Emma Lavy matched Tubert Friday also posting a 75 in the dry and warm conditions.  Lavy is tied for 21st with 152.

Junior Victoria Vela posted an 81 Friday and is in the clubhouse with a 160 and a tie for 73rd overall.  Sophomore Emily Podzielinski carded an 82 Friday for 161 and is tied for 83rd.  Freshman Hally Leadbetter rallied from a tough opening round counting a 77 Friday for a 166 and a tie for 109th overall.

Third-ranked Southern California leads the field with a 588.  The other teams inside the top eight include No. 10 Vanderbilt with 600, No. 27 Virginia with 604, No. 21 Oregon and No. 33 Purdue with 608, No. 4 Auburn in sixth with 610, No. 22 North Carolina State with 611 and No. 16 Ohio State with 612.

Teams within striking distance include No. 14 Tennessee in ninth place with 614, followed by No. 28 Florida State with 615, No. 9 Georgia with 617 and No. 34 Arkansas with 618.

The Razorbacks hold a six stroke lead over No. 49 Notre Dame in 13th place with 624.  Ole Miss is in 14th with 626, followed by Michigan with 631, Harvard with 632, No. 46 South Florida with 634, No. 45 Texas State and No. 41 Kentucky with 635, East Carolina with 639, UTSA with 643, UNC-Wilmington with 645, Siena College with 654 and Butler with 655.