McCurdy and Lewis lead Lady'Backs

Jump to complete results SUNRIVER, Ore. – The 18th-ranked University of Arkansas golf team posted a first round 296 for the second-best round of the morning at the NCAA Championship at the Meadows in Sunriver, Ore., Tuesday, and stand in eighth place overall. Arkansas, playing in its first-ever NCAA Championship teed off at 10:00 a.m., in chilly 40-degree weather for a four-and-a-half hour round that included gusty winds and light on-and-off rain. The Lady’Backs managed a 296 trailing 10th-ranked Washington who counted 292 in the morning session of the par 71, 6,312-yard course. “This is a pretty good start,” said head coach Kelley Hester. “The back nine was a little more scoreable and we started strong with some low numbers. Our goal all year has been to put together four good rounds and today was a good step in that direction.” Junior Amanda McCurdy paced Arkansas with an even-par 71 on the day. The El Dorado, Ark., native was plus-one through the first nine but got the stroke back with a birdie on the par-four fifth hole. McCurdy stands tied for third overall. Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year Stacy Lewis counted a 72 for Arkansas. Lewis played the back nine at plus one got back even with a birdie on the third hole but gave it back with a bogey on the fifth hole. Lewis is tied for 12th after the first round. Junior Lindsey Hinshaw was the first Lady’Back off the course Tuesday. The Missouri City, Texas, native tied her second best career round at Arkansas with a day one 76. Hinshaw made the turn even starting the day on the 10th hole but picked up five strokes on the front nine. She rallied birding the ninth hole with a nice putt. Hinshaw is tied for 57th overall. Junior Courtney Mahon was next off the links counting a 77 on the day. Mahon was at plus-one after the first nine with two birdies but five bogies on the second nine, including the final two holes, pushed her score higher. Senior Hot Springs, Ark., native Gena Johnson opened tournament play with a plus-nine 80 for Arkansas. “We’ve had some good individual performances all year and now the goal is to have everyone firing on all cylinders,” said Hester. “It’s so exciting to have been here (at NCAAs) as a player and as an assistant coach but there’s nothing like bringing your own team to the championship. We’re here and we want to do more that just enjoy the experience. We want to challenge the field and see where we stack up at the end of the year.” Fourteenth-ranked Southern California leads the field after the first round of play shooting a 287 Tuesday. Second-ranked UCLA is in second with a 288, followed by third-ranked Auburn with a 290. Fourth-ranked Pepperdine is fourth with a 291, followed by No. 1 Duke and No. 10 Washington in a tie for fifth with 292. Number 24 California is seventh overall with a 295, followed by No. 18 Arkansas at 296, No. 7 Oklahoma State in ninth at 298 and No. 23 Stanford and No. 9 Tennessee are tied for 10th place with 300. 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. Please log on to LADYBACKS.COM for all the latest scores and stats.