Arkansas still in the hunt after two rounds at the NCAA Central Regional Championship

Jump tosecond round results ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The 26th-ranked University of Arkansas women’s golf team fought its way to a second round 301 and is clinging to a tie for the coveted eighth place spot at the 2007 NCAA Central Regional Championship in Ann Arbor, Mich., Friday. Arkansas battled higher scores giving up a couple of strokes from each golfer on the par-71, 6,116-yard University of Michigan course but is holding on to one of the top eight spots with Saturday’s final round looming. Arkansas is just 12 strokes out of second place and there are just five strokes between Arkansas and the fifth place team after two rounds. “Everyone fought really hard today,” said Arkansas head coach Kelley Hester. “Some days are just harder than others. Today was a struggle but it could have been worse. We’re so young and this is a pressure-packed event. We’re still learning how to deal with that. The only way to learn is to go through and that’s what we’re doing right now. I’m just glad this round is today and not tomorrow.” “It was a tough one today,” echoed Arkansas assistant coach Shauna Estes who served as the day’s designated coach. “It was really hard to finish and get in the house. We’re young and that showed today but we still left ourselves in the hunt and we have a chance to play well in the final round. We just need to go out and play like we are capable of and get to the Big Dance.” The top eight teams from each of the three NCAA Regional sites (East, West and Central) advance to the 2007 NCAA Championship in Daytona Beach, Fla., May 22-26. Junior Stacy Lewis continues to pace the Lady Razorbacks with a one-over 72. Lewis’ 142 has The Woodlands, Texas, native tied for fifth place overall. Despite being just one-over, Lewis’ round included four birdies, one bogey and an uncharacteristic two doubles, first on 17 and again the fourth hole. As a team, the Lady’Backs had five doubles on the day. “I told Stacy after the round that some days are just hard work,” said Estes, “but to come away one-over and feeling like you didn’t play your best is really amazing. A few years ago that would have been a 75 or 76. Stacy has matured so much and her hard work is paying off. Day’s like this really show how far she’s come.” Freshman Kristin Ingram (76-74) stepped up with a solid three-over 74 in the second round. She had a couple of birdies in her round and is tied with several golfers including teammate freshman Corinna Rees (73-77) at 36th with a two-day 150. Sophomore Lucy Nunn and freshman Alex Schulte both struggled in the second round. Nunn is tied for 48th with a 151 (72-79) while Schulte is tied for 68th overall at 155 (77-78). Ninth-ranked Southern California continues to lead the field with a nine-stroke lead and a 571. The Trojans posted a second-day 288 (283-288=571) and lead No. 23 Texas Christian who is second with 580 (289-291). The surprise of the field is No. 50 Indiana in third place with a 584 (289-295), followed by fourth-ranked Vanderbilt (290-295=585), No. 10 Tennessee (294-293=587) and No. 3 Georgia (292-296=588) in a Southeastern Conference bottle-neck at the numbers four, five and six spots. Twenty-second-ranked Michigan State is seventh with a 590 (295-295) while No. 26 Arkansas (291-301) and No. 15 Arizona (297-295) are tied with a 592. Twenty-eighth-ranked Kent State is charging hard in the 10th spot with a 595, while No. 33 Ohio State, No. 43 Southern Methodist, No. 34 Northwestern, No. 47 Missouri and No. 40 Michigan round out the top 15. Arkansas plays the final round Saturday pairing with Arizona and Michigan State beginning at 8:00 a.m. Central from the first tee. For more information about Arkansas golf, please log on to LADYBACKS.COM.