McCurdy and the US move up

FAYETTEVILLE — University of Arkansas senior Amanda McCurdy helped the United States move up three spots into a tie for ninth after second round action at the Spirit International Amateur Championship at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity, Texas, Thursday. The El Dorado, Ark., native was one of two collegiate American women selected to represent the United States at the prestigious invitation-only event. Consided the Olympics of amateur golf, The Spirit is a combined men’s and women’s event with four athletes, two male and two female, on each of the 24 international teams in the field. The biennial event is in its third year of existence and the 72-hole event saw the Americans move up in the second round. The tournament format features 72 holes of four ball stroke play with the combined men’s and women’s teams four ball score used to determine the International Team Champion. McCurdy and teammate Paige Mackenzie bettered their first round 71 with a 68 today helping the U.S. women move into a tie for sixth place overall. The combined men’s and women’s team vaulted to third place behind England and South Africa after two rounds of play. McCurdy continues play Friday before returning home to lead the University of Arkansas at the lone home event of the season, the Tyson/Embassy Suites Invitational at Pinnacle Country Club. For more information about Arkansas golf, log on to LADYBACKS.COM.