Mahon fires two-over 73 to lead Arkansas

Jump to results SUNRIVER, Ore.—The 18th-ranked University of Arkansas held on to tie for eighth place overall after second round action at the 2005 NCAA Golf Championship at the Meadows in Sunriver, Ore., Tuesday. Follow today’s round live at Golfstat.com. Arkansas teed off in the afternoon after the morning session battled heavy rains and cold temperatures. The cold continued as the Lady’Backs played in 40-degree conditions but the winds picked up with 40 mile per hour gusts. The field also battled light sprinkles that turned into steady rain with a bit of hail with the final three players still on the course. “Conditions were tough today,” said head coach Kelley Hester. “I thought we battled through that well. We didn’t finish as strong as I would have liked but we hung in there and put ourselves in a pretty good position for tomorrow.” Fourth-ranked Pepperdine and third-ranked Auburn lead the field with identical 586s. Pepperdine carded a day-best 295 while the Tigers were close behind at 296 Wednesday. Second-ranked UCLA is in third at 590, followed by No. 24 California with 594, No. 1 Duke at 595, No. 8 Ohio State at 597 and No. 14 Southern California is ninth with 599. Arkansas is tied for No. 9 Tennessee at 603 and closely followed by No. 5 Arizona State and No. 7 Oklahoma State both tied for 10th with 604. Arkansas posted a second-round 307 up 11 strokes from Tuesday’s 296 but held their position in the tough conditions. Redshirt freshman Stacy Lewis and junior Courtney Mahon lead the team and are tied for 31st overall with rounds of 150. Mahon was low for Arkansas with a two-over 73. She was two-under through 11 and even after 17 holes but two-putted 18 with the gallery looking on. Lewis battled a sore back for the entire round turning in a 78. The Woodlands, Texas, native struggled through the opening nine holes playing to plus seven but was even with three birdies on the back nine to finish the day at that number. Junior El Dorado, Ark., native Amanda McCurdy also struggled on the front nine playing to plus six. She finished with a second-round 82 and is tied for 64th with a 153. Junior Lindsey Hinshaw carded a second-round 79 for a 155 and is tied for 78th overall while senior Hot Springs, Ark., native Gena Johnson is tied for 95th overall with a 157 including a 77 on Wednesday. Johnson was plus-two through 11 holes but picked up some strokes coming in. “We were so close to having a great round,” said Hester. “We missed a lot of puts we shouldn’t have. To say that we didn’t play our best and still be in eighth place at the NCAA Championships is pretty amazing. This team really does have so much potential and we all need to put it together on the same day. When we do that, anything is possible.” Arkansas will tee off in the afternoon Thursday with Friday’s tee times based on Thursday’s play. Adding to the excitement of the event is the fact that the Golf Channel will air portions of each round at the end of each day. Coverage begins Thursday at midnight Central with a replay beginning a 4:00 p.m., Central the following day. Friday’s coverage can be seen again at midnight with the replay beginning at 3:00 p.m., Central the following day. Final round action airs Saturday at midnight and 3:00 p.m. For more information about Arkansas golf, log on to LADYBACKS.COM.