Tuber, Razorbacks lead after second round
BOULDER CREEK, Nev. – University of Arkansas freshman Emily Tubert continues to lead the No. 19 Razorback women’s golf team in the second round of the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown in Boulder Creek, Nev., Tuesday.
Tubert fired a school and course record 63 in the first round and paired that with a four-under 68 Tuesday, for a 131 and a six-stroke lead over the field. Tubert opened with four birdies on the front nine, and made the turn four-under. She added a pair of birdies and two bogies on the back nine remaining at four-under.
"One of the hardest things to do in golf is to follow up a career round with another good round," Arkansas head coach Shauna Estes-Taylor said. "That’s exactly what Emily did today. It’s just amazing.
"It was a team effort today," she continued. "Everybody is firing and there are a lot of great opportunities out there and we are taking advantage of them."
Senior Kelli Shean continued to battle and played a five-under 67, tying her career collegiate low. Shean met the Razorbacks in Las Vegas, Nev., after playing and traveling to and from Argentina last week.
She opened with a first-round 69 and added 67 Tuesday moving up three spots into a tie for second overall with a 137.
Shean, ranked No. 48 by Golfstat.com, blistered the first nine holes playing four under with birdies on the first, second, fifth and sixth greens. She finished the round with three more birdies, and two bogies, on the back nine.
"I don’t know how Kelli is doing it," Estes-Taylor said. "She is digging from someplace deep. That’s what true champions do. Kelli has found an extra gear and is getting it done for her team."
Senior Corinna Rees tore up the course Tuesday with a personal collegiate best five-under 67. Rees had six birdies and one bogey in the round, playing the front nine three-under for the Razorbacks. She moved from a tie for 24th place into a tie for seventh in the second round.
Redshirt freshman Emma Lavy counted a two-over 74 Tuesday. Lavy, a Fayetteville, Ark., native, played the front nine well, and was even at the turn. She managed a pair of birdies on the back nine but also had two bogies and a double. Lavy is tied for 32nd overall with a 147 (73-74).
Sophomore Victoria Vela is tied for 24th after the second round with 146 (71-75). Vela was three-over Tuesday picking up all three strokes on the front nine. She played the back nine even with two birdies and two bogies.
"Corinna has been waiting for a day like today," Estes-Taylor said. "Her ball striking has been so awesome this semester and it’s paying off in the round.
"Emma and Vickie held it together as well," Estes-Taylor said. "This course can frustrate you. There are some opportunities out there but it’s easy to get off your game. Both players are ball striking machines and were able to do a lot of good things."
Sophomore Meagan Roberts, playing as an individual, rallied well with a second round 73 moving into a tie for 81st with a 155 (82-73).
"I’m so proud of Meagan," Estes-Taylor said. "She rebounded really well from yesterday. This experience is exactly what she needs right now."
The Razorbacks again managed the golf course well tying with No. 11 Arizona with the lowest rounds of the day at 276. That mark is a single round record for the Razorbacks bettering yesterday’s 277. Arkansas leads the field with a 553 followed by the Wildcats with 571 (295-276).
The top 10 includes No. 26 Kent State in third with 573 (296-277), No. 35 Louisville in fourth with 574 (295-279) and No. 43 Minnesota in fifth with 581 (300-281).
The rest of the field includes No. 47 East Carolina and No. 33 Washington tied for sixth with 583, Missouri eighth with 586, No. 25 Oregon and No. 40 UNLV tied for ninth with 588, Colorado State in 11th with 593, No. 41 San Diego State in 12th with 594, No. 50 New Mexico in 13th with 595, Idaho in 14th with 599, UC-Irvine and San Jose State tied for 15th with 602 and Washington State in 17th with 606.
Play concludes with a final round on the par 72, 6,329 yard Boulder Creek Golf Club Wednesday.
