May 24, 2008

NCAA Championship, Albuquerque, N.M., University of New Mexico Championship GC

Blue Devils Finish Third At NCAA Championship; Blumenherst Nabs Tied For Fifth Ledger

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The Duke women's golf team saved its best golf for the final day as the Blue Devils carded a tournament-best seven-under-par, 281, on Friday at the NCAA Championship and jumped from eighth to third at the 6,424-Yard, Par 72 University of New Mexico Championship Golf Course in Albuquerque, N.M.

Southern California continued to play solid golf and won the NCAA title by six strokes over UCLA with a 72-hole total of 1168. UCLA was second with a 1174, while Duke (1180), Purdue (1188), Arizona State (1189), Denver (1191), Texas A&M (1191), Arkansas (1194), Florida (1196), Georgia (1197) and Wake Forest (1197) rounding out the top 10 teams.

Taking home the individual title was Arizona State's Azahara Munoz as she won in a playoff against UCLA's Tiffany Joh. The duo finished the tournament with a four-day total of one-under-par, 287.

As a team, the Blue Devils total rounds of 299, 300, 300 and 281, but didn't get the putts to start dropping until the final day. The round included a hole-in-one by Jennie Lee on the No. 12 and an eagle from the fairway on No. 8 by Amanda Blumenherst.

Duke kicked off the round on fire after teeing off on No. 10 as Lee registered birdie, birdie and ace on the first three holes. Combine Lee's four-under-par on the first three holes, freshman Kim Donovan also notched a birdie on her third hole, No. 12. Duke had made five strokes up and were only 13 shots off Southern California's lead before weather forced yet another delay at 2:30 p.m., which was the story of the championship.

Wake Forest Finishes Tenth at NCAA Championship

The No. 14 Wake Forest women's golf team posted a four-over 292 in the final round of the NCAA Championship in Albuquerque, N.M. Friday to finish the tournament in tenth place. The round was a team-best for the four-day event.

The Deacs carded a 45-over 1197 for the tournament on the par-72, 6,424-yard University of New Mexico Championship Course.

The finish for Wake was its best since the Deacons finished 3rd in 1995 in Wilmington, N.C.

Nannette Hill was the top finisher for the Deacs. The junior posted a one-over 73 in the final round to finish the event in a tie for 13th place. Hill, who led the championship after round one, finished the four rounds with a six-over 294.

Cavalier Golfers Finish 12th at NCAAs

Albuquerque, NM -The 16th-ranked Virginia women's golf team finished in a three-way tie for 12th at the NCAA Championships at the University of New Mexico Golf Course. The Cavaliers, along with No. 10 Auburn and No. 12 Alabama, completed the 72-hole tournament at 63-over 1215. It was UVa's best performance at the national championships. In Virginia's only other NCAA Championship appearance, the Cavaliers were 13th in 2005.

Virginia had rounds of 296, 317, 301 and 301. Weather, including high winds, lighting and hail, as well as darkness, delayed and suspended play numerous times during the four-day event.

Lene Krog led Virginia on the final day, shooting 1-over 73. Jennie Arseneault carded a 2-over 74, Joy Kim and Calle Nielson both shot 77 and Whitney Neuhauser posted a 78.

Krog was the Cavaliers top overall finisher in 28th place at 11-over 299. Arseneault finished the tournament at 300 and was 34th overall. Kim was 80th at 309, Nielson was 84th at 310 and Neuhauser placed 101st at 317.

Seminoles' Westrup Finishes In Tie For 13th Place At NCAA Women's Golf Championship

ALBUQUERQUE, NM - Florida State University junior Caroline Westrup shot a one-under par 71 in the final round and finished in a tie for 13th place as play in the NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championship on the Champions Course on the University at New Mexico Golf Club came to a close on Friday. Westrup played her best round of golf in the four round event and finished only eight strokes behind the winning individual score.

Westrup finished the event with a six-over par score of 294. She finished at even par in the first round (72) and at one under par in the final round (71). Azahara Munoz of Arizona State won the individual title as she defeated Tiffany Joh of UCLA in a playoff. Munoz and Joh finished tied in the individual standings with identical scores of one-under par 287.

Westrup played her best round of golf in the final round as she was never more than one stroke over par for the entire round. She carded a bogey on her first hole of the afternoon and then birdied two of her next three holes to move to one-under par. Westrup closed her first nine holes at one under par. She then played her second nine holes at even par to finish with a score of 71.

Lauren Doughtie Ties for 34th at NCAA Championships

ALBUQUERQUE - Junior Lauren Doughtie recorded seven birdies on Friday to finish tied for 34th at the NCAA Women's Golf Championships after shooting a final round two-under 70 at the UNM Championship Course.

Doughtie finished up the 72-hole tournament at +12 (76-80-74-70=300).

Weather was again an issue for a third-straight day that halted play for more than two hours.

Doughtie, ranked No. 45 in the nation, had her most up-and-down round of the tournament on Friday. After beginning with a bogey at No. 1 for a third straight round, she birdied Nos. 3 and 4 to move to one under.