Lewis moves into third place after third round action

Jump to results DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — University of Arkansas junior Stacy Lewis posted a two-over 74 in third round action at the 2007 NCAA Championship in Daytona Beach, Fla., Thursday. Lewis has been near the top of the leader board for the opening rounds and Thursday’s 74 gives The Woodlands, Texas, native a 216 (71-71-74) which is good for sole possession of third place after three rounds. Final round play concludes Friday. "It was a little bit more of a struggle today," said Arkansas head coach Kelley Hester. "The winds are so unpredictable and it just continues to swirl around. Despite that, Stacy hit some really good shots today. Her short game saved her day – it could have been much worse." Lewis probably thought it was bad enough with three bogies on the front nine. Things seemed fine with back-to-back pars on the first two holes to start the round. Then Lewis took a bogey on the 137-yard par-three third hole after three putting. She birdied the same hole in the second round. Lewis would remain at one-over until the eighth hole, a par-five, 474-yard hole, when she miss-hit a shot. She used a wedge to get to the green but hit into the hazard. She got out and finished with a six. She followed up on the par-four, 356-yard ninth hole with a bogey as well. Lewis pulled her tee shot left into the hazard and battled to get up-and-down. "Stacy had a couple errant shots today which she hasn’t had," said Hester. "But she hung in there and made some good shots coming in." Although the back nine traditionally plays a bit more difficult, Lewis was one-under after the turn. She was even through 15 when she birdied the 162-yard par-three. Lewis gave the stroke back on the 16th with a bogey but marked down a birdie on the 17th to finish at plus-two. Lewis came off The Legends Course at LPGA International tied for fifth place overall but the golfers ahead of her had not yet started their rounds. Lewis endured a 10-minute rain delay and the afternoon session was again hampered by winds and more rain. Purdue’s Christel Boeljon leads the field at six-under 210 (72-69-69) and is putting some distance between herself and the rest of the field. Southern California’s Paola Moreno is second with a 215 (73-72-70) followed by Lewis. There is a three-way tie for fourth place including top-ranked Amanda Blumenherst of Duke with 217. For more information about Arkansas golf, please log on to LADYBACKS.COM.