Scores higher for Lady'Backs in second round

Jump to agate COLUMBUS, Ohio – The 10th-ranked University of Arkansas women’s golf team battled changing conditions and struggled with the putter as scores elevated in the second round of the 2006 NCAA Golf Championship at the Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio, Wednesday. Arkansas, who stood in eighth place after the first round, added 25 strokes to yesterday’s 299 for a 313 and is 19th with two rounds remaining. “We really hit some good golf shots on the front nine today,” said Lady Razorback head coach Kelley Hester, “but they went through the green. We were kinda penalized by the greens for hitting some good shots. We just didn’t put well on the back nine. Overall it was just a tough day out there.” Sophomore Stacy Lewis paced the Lady’Backs with a four-over 76. The Woodlands, Texas, native tallied five bogeys on the front nine but played the back nine even for Arkansas. She is tied for 49th overall with a 152. Senior Amanda McCurdy and sophomore Ashley Medders were both plus-five on the day. McCurdy, an El Dorado, Ark., native was plus-one through her first nine but picked up strokes with five bogeys and a birdie in the second nine. She is tied for 49th with a 152. Medders leads the team with a 151 and is tied for 39th overall after Wednesday’s 77. She struggled with six bogies on the front but finished the back nine at one-under for the Lady Razorbacks. “Stacy, Amanda and Ashley really fought hard today,” said Hester. “They really hung in there. All of them were higher at one point in their rounds than they finished. If we were able to throw in one more good score all of sudden we’re in a good position.” Seniors Courtney Mahon and Lindsey Hinshaw both carded 83s for Arkansas. Mahon is tied for 94th overall with a 157, followed by Hinshaw who is tied for 106th with a 159. “There’s a lot of golf left,” Hester added. “Anything can happen and we want to go out and play well over the next two rounds. If we take care of things one stroke at a time, the scores will take care of themselves. I’ve said numerous times that this event is a marathon, not a sprint so we’re going to go out and try to finish strong.” Third-ranked Arizona State posted a plus-six 294 and leads the 24-team field with a 586 (292-294). Top-ranked Duke rebounded from a slow start Tuesday and is second with a 589 (297-292). Fifth-ranked Southern California, the team leader after the first round, is third with a 591 (291-300), followed by No. 9 Tennessee in fourth with a 593 (303-290). Seventh-ranked Purdue (301-295) and No. 8 Pepperdine (301-295) are tied for fifth place with a 596. Arkansas is slated for a 9:00 a.m. Central tee time off the first tee on Thursday but heavy rain is expected to postpone the start. For more information about Arkansas golf, please log on to LADYBACKS.COM.