Former Razorback Lewis moves up leaderboard

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Former University of Arkansas All-American women’s golfer Stacy Lewis moved up three spots into a tie for third place after second round action at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament in Daytona Beach, Fla., Thursday. Lewis played the Legends course Thursday, the site of her 2007 NCAA Championship run, firing a six-under 66 – the same score on the final day of her NCAA title. The Woodlands, Texas, native improved on her first round 69 and is one stroke behind the leaders with three rounds remaining. “I am here to win and, hopefully, I will make some more birdies,” said Lewis, who will return to the Champions course for Friday’s third round. “It’s a marathon this week. You just have to stay patient and that’s what I really tried to do today. I was over par early, then I just needed to putt more. I just have to go make some more birdies.” Lewis’ round began on the 10th hole and she carded a bogey on the 378-yard, par-4 13th hole before birdies on holes 14 and 16 to make the turn at 1-under-par 35. Her back nine (front nine of the course) gave up five birdies on holes two, three, five, eight and nine for a 5-under-par 31. Razorback women’s head coach Shauna Estes-Taylor is on the bag for Lewis this week. The five-day qualifier is played on both the Legends and Champions courses at LPGA International. For the third round, players will be repaired by scores within the group on their course and return to the course they played in the first round. A 72-hole cut will be made to the low-70 players and ties on Saturday. Those players will then compete Sunday on the Champions course for the final 18 holes of play.