ROGERS -- It doesn't always work this way, but in maturity, academics and athletics, college senior and junior athletes are supposed to have progressed from their freshman and sophomore days.
And so it goes with Gabriela Lopez. "Gaby," as she is known to all her Razorbacks women's golf teammates and Coach Shauna Estes-Taylor, has progressed admirably from her freshman through junior seasons.
In 2013, the Mexico City native was named to the SEC All-Freshman team and second-team All-SEC. In 2014 she advanced to first-team All-SEC. This year as a junior she finished national runner-up at the NCAA Championship, one stroke behind Alabama winner Emma Talley.
That earned Lopez first-team All-America honors after repeating as a first-team All-SEC member.
Now for the third time as a Razorback, Lopez is playing in the three-day LPGA Northwest Arkansas Championship that began Friday at Pinnacle Country Club.
Lopez didn't make the cut as a nervous freshman.
Last year, she did.
This year, Estes-Taylor believes Lopez not only will advance to Sunday's final round but could contend with the great professionals that include Arkansas' Stacy Lewis, the 2007 NCAA champion and winner of 11 LPGA tournaments including two majors and the 2014 Northwest Arkansas Championship.
"I think Gaby coming off such a strong spring has got a lot of confidence in herself," Estes-Taylor said. "I fully expect that she will play well. And if Gaby plays well, she could definitely be in contention."
Lewis believes it, too. Assisting Estes-Taylor whenever she can as a volunteer coach, Lewis has worked three years with Lopez and this year with sophomore transfer Samantha Marks. Marks is also in the tournament and joined Lewis and Lopez in Wednesday's news conference at Pinnacle.
Lewis interrupted approvingly when Lopez responded to a question about confidence.
Noting she shot a final-round 66 for second at the NCAA Tournament just like Lewis' final-round 66 to win in 2007, Lopez said four days later she qualified for the U.S. Open, her last competition before the tournament.
"I am where I need to be," Lopez said. "I am really confident about my ball-striking. My putting is going well and my short game is impressive as well. Not to be cocky ..."
"I like it!" Lewis interrupted.
Lopez credits the UA, Estes-Taylor, assistant coach Mike Adams and Lewis providing the experiences for her confidence base.
"It is really cool to see that the University of Arkansas has taught me a lot and opened so many doors for me," Lopez said. "The university gives us all the tools to be successful in the classroom and outside."
Just having a big LPGA tournament so close to campus opens doors, Lopez said. Her 2012 recruiting visit coincided with the Northwest Arkansas Championship, which enhanced her already "falling in love with Arkansas."
"Coming from Mexico everyone is 'Where is Arkansas on the map?' " Lopez said. "I think I can describe it as my second home and obviously am grateful for that forever."
Sports on 06/27/2015