Gorlei Leads Arkansas In First Round

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – University of Arkansas sophomore Cara Gorlei posted the Razorbacks’ low round of the day leading the team to a tie for sixth place after day one action at the 2017 NCAA Columbus Women’s Golf Regional on Monday.

Gorlei, a Cape Town, South Africa, native, carded a 2-over 74 on the par 72, 6,416 yard Scarlet Course at The Ohio State. She is tied for seventh overall while the No. 13 Razorbacks’ 309 keeps them in the hunt for one of the coveted top six positions. The top six teams from each of the four NCAA Regional sites move on to the NCAA Championship.

Gorlei rallied down the stretch for her day-one total. Cold temperatures delayed the start by an hour and a half and winds blowing at 25 or more miles an hour were the norm. The course, the second longest Arkansas has played this season, is a challenge with large, fast greens that feature a lot of motion making putting tricky. The average score for the field in round one was 79.41.

Gorlei played the front nine 4-over with one birdie and five bogeys but she hung on to make a run on the back nine. After adding another bogey on No. 11, Gorlei would finish with three birdies in her final five holes boosting Arkansas’ score.

She finished No. 18 with a flair. She left her second shot short of the green and had to chip up. The chip was perfect from 25 yards and crashed into the pin falling in the cup for the birdie.

Sophomore Kaylee Benton and senior Summar Roachell are tied for 22nd shooting 77 followed by junior Alana Uriell and sophomore Maria Fassi who are tied for 65th shooting 81.

Arkansas posted a 21-over 309 but is just one shot back of fifth place and seven from third in a tight race. Fourth-ranked Florida leads the field shooting 297, followed by No. 5 Florida State at 299. The host No. 29 Buckeyes and No. 27 Purdue are tied for third shooting 302, with No. 21 Texas A&M rounding out the top five with 308.

The Razorbacks are currently scheduled for an 8:24 a.m. (local, 7:24 a.m. central) tee time playing with Purdue and Texas A&M. This will make the fifth consecutive round paired with the Aggies going back to the Southeastern Conference Championship two weeks ago.

From Shauna Estes-Taylor
This is a championship golf course and it demands your presence and your discipline. You can’t be greedy. If you get into trouble, you have to get out of trouble and you have to take advantage of your opportunities when you get them. It’s a smart golfer’s golf course and I have been telling the team how important it is to stay in every golf shot. It’s hard for everyone but I think the conditions will be a little better tomorrow. We are in a position to reach our goals but we have to go out and fight and I know this group has the strength to do that. We are looking forward to the next two days.

Razorback Lineup

The Field