UA women hampered by slow start at NCAAs

Arkansas' Emily Tubert hits from the fourth tee during the SEC Women's tournament at The Blessings Golf Course in Johnson on Saturday, April 21, 2012.
Arkansas' Emily Tubert hits from the fourth tee during the SEC Women's tournament at The Blessings Golf Course in Johnson on Saturday, April 21, 2012.

The University of Arkansas women’s golf team has some catching up to do at the NCAA Championships in Athens, Ga.

The No. 5 Razorbacks finished the opening round Tuesday at 8-over-par 296 on the par-72, 6,372-yard University of Georgia Golf Course. That left Arkansas in 11th place, 12 shots behind co-leaders Southern California and San Jose State, which finished the first of four rounds at 4-under 284.

Duke is third at 2-under 286, with defending national champion Alabama fourth at even-par 288.

Arkansas was led by junior Emma Lavy, who was at 2 under going into her final hole before a triple-bogey on No. 9 left her at 1-over 73.

Lavy, of Fayetteville, had four birdies and was at 3 under through her first six holes but had a double-bogey on No. 16. She is tied for 33rd place after spending much of the day among the top five.

“There are just so many birdies out there on this course,” Lavy said. “You have to keep that in mind on this golf course and keep the good things in front of you. I wish I had one more hole to play today.

Arkansas freshman Gabriela Lopez carded a 2-over 74 after making the turn at 2 under. Senior Victoria Vela had the most consistent round for Arkansas, with her one birdie and three bogeys also leaving her at 2 over

Junior Emily Tubert, playing in the No. 1 position for the Razorbacks, struggled to 6 over through her first 12 holes before bouncing back with three birdies to finish out a round of 3-over 75. Freshman Regina Plasencia had six bogeys and a birdie, and her 5-over 77 did not count in Arkansas’ 296 team score.

No. 48 San Jose State - which is seeking its first team title in 21 years - was the opening day’s big surprise, with Regina De Guzman firing a career-best 5-under 67 to lead the tournament by two strokes over Duke’s Celine Boutier and Alabama’s Stephanie Meadow.

“One of the girls I played with asked me if I knew what I scored and I said, ‘No, I’m sorry. I just know I made a lot of birdies,’ ” said De Guzman, the Western Athletic Conference’s freshman of the year. “I feel great about it. I was having so much fun.

“The course is playing good. It’s a tough course, but it was great.”

Mississippi State’s Allie McDonald and Southern Cal’s Annie Park were tied for fourth at 2-under, with 14 players tied for sixth place another shot behind. Southern Cal’s Rachel Morris and Sophia Popov are a stroke back and tied for sixth.

Southern Cal, which won titles in 2003 and 2008 and was runner-up to Alabama last year, came in as the top ranked team in the country.

“There’s a lot of golf left,” Southern California Coach Andrea Gaston said. “It’s about stamina and holding up under the pressure for four days, and they just have to keep themselves fresh. It’s nice to be in this position, and our goal is to keep all five players in it and know that every single shot counts.”

The Razorbacks tee off at 7:33 a.m. today from the No. 1 tee.

Sports, Pages 23 on 05/22/2013

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