Lewis brings home the trophy

ROGERS, Ark. – There’s a trophy but it’s not a win. It’s simple. Really. University of Arkansas senior Stacy Lewis fired a course record 65 in the first round of the LPGA NW Arkansas Championship at Pinnacle Country Club. The round took two days to complete and the other two schedule rounds of the event were washed out. The result? A non-event. Lewis vaulted up the leaderboard with spectacular play emerging as the first-round leader. Not only did she card a course record, it is her best competitive round ever. In addition, it is believed to be the only time a current collegiate player has led the first round of an LPGA event. Unfortunately for Lewis and the rest of the field, heavy rains washed out the rest of the event resulting in a “non-event”. The round technically does not count. Lewis’ accomplishment, however, was not washed away with the rain. The trophy was issued to Lewis although she is not called the tournament winner. The Golf Channel fawned over Lewis as their three-hour live window still needed filling and fans, friends of the program and LPGA players and caddies congratulated Lewis and her caddied, teammate Lucy Nunn, on their success. “I played well,” said Lewis. “Obviously, I’m disappointed that we didn’t get to finish the tournament. Yesterday was a roller coaster of emotions for me. I was happy to have shot my lowest competitive round but it was a knife in the heart to not really win. “It’s just one round of golf,” Lewis continued. “I wish we could have finished.” Lewis really won’t have much time to reflect on the weekend as she returns to life as a collegiate player with the Lady Razorbacks. Arkansas opens the 2007-08 season traveling to Lexington, Ky., for the Wildcat Fall Invitational Sept. 29. “I have the confidence that I can play with the best players in the world,” said Lewis. “I’m ready to get back to the team element of golf that college gives me. I’m really looking forward to this final season.” For more information about Lewis and the Lady Razorbacks, log on to LADYBACKS.COM.