Razorbacks move up leaderboard

NEW ORLEANS, La. — The No. 41 University of Arkansas women’s golf team moved up several spots to a tie for 14th in the second round of the Tiger/Wave Classic at the English Turn Golf and Country Club in New Orleans, La., Saturday.

Arkansas carded a second-day 316 paired with a 314 in the opening round for 630 and a tie for 14th, up five spots from its tie for 19th after the first round. The Razorbacks are tied with No. 5 Purdue and No. 26 Louisville with the final round remaining.

“It was super tough out there today as far as conditions go,” Arkansas head coach Shauna Estes-Taylor said. “We were playing in a 30-35 mph wind which is about a three-club wind. Strategically, the greens are really tiny and hard to gage but I saw some good things out there today. We hung in there and finished a little better than yesterday.”

Junior Kelli Shean moved to the front of Arkansas’ leader board going low with a three-over 75 Saturday. She is tied for 21st with a 153 (78-75). Freshman Victoria Vela is tied for 53rd with a 158 (77-81), followed by junior Corinna Rees who is tied for 65th with at 159 (79-80). Senior Kristin Ingram turned in an 82 (80-82) for a 162 and she is tied for 85th overall. Tiffany Phelps rounds out the Razorback scores. Phelps is tied for 100 with a second-round 80 for a 165 (85-80).

Shean, who has been Arkansas’ best finish in every event this year, opened the day on the 10th hole and played the back nine even. She was plus-two but carded a three on the par five 15th hole to even out her score. She turned and bogeyed her first three holes on the front nine finishing three-over for the day.

Vela, who continues to make big strides as a freshman, quickly got to plus-six on the back nine while Ingram played 10-18 plus-seven for the day. The opening nine holes were problematic for the entire team with Phelps and Rees plus-five before the turn.

All five players were plus-three on the front nine Saturday.

“We have one more day to play and we’re going out and trying to play our best golf,” Estes-Taylor said. “We’re looking for a strong finish and some momentum for next week.”

Co-host No. 20 LSU and Southeastern Conference rival No. 2 Auburn lead the 23-team field with 601. Number 27 TCU is third with 603 followed by No. 7 Alabama, No. 18 Virginia, No. 35 North Carolina, No. 16 Tennessee, Ole Miss, No. 17 Georgia and No. 46 Notre Dame rounding out the top 10.