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Women's Golf Falls Back To Second At NCAA Regionals Through 36 Holes
5/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
ATHENS, GA.? On a day when the putts wouldn't drop, the top-ranked and top-seeded Duke women's golf team turned in a second round total of 303 and fell back to second place entering the final round of the NCAA East Regional, which is being played at the 6,335-Yard, Par 72 University of Georgia Golf Course in Athens, Ga.
After carding a three-under-par ledger of 285 on Thursday, Duke posted a 15-over-par, 303, on day two. The Blue Devils own a 36-hole total of 588 and trail Florida (585) by three strokes with 18 holes remaining. The Gators totaled a team-best seven-over-par, 295, on Friday. Both Duke and Florida opened the day on the 10th hole in the second round.
“What I was just saying to the team was this is absolutely perfect bent grass growing conditions right now,” said Duke Head Coach Dan Brooks. “It rained last night so these greens spent the whole day growing like crazy. So we come in and played all of our golf in the afternoon and there were a lot of surprised looks on people's faces after their putts because they are watching these putts trickle away, while expecting them to go in. That can get frustrating, especially for good players and good putters. Now you have to be mentally stronger than that and you have to be able to go in and know that is going to happen -- you are going to have more grain and slower putts. That is where we didn't get it done.”
Rounding out the top eight teams were South Carolina (594), Auburn (598), Georgia (599), Furman (599), Wake Forest (603) and New Mexico (605). The top eight teams through Saturday's round will advance to participate in the NCAA Championship from May 20-23 in Albuquerque, N.M.
“All of us go to regionals ever year with the idea that we are training our mentalities, minds -- trying to get ourselves to get tough as nails,” said Brooks. “So it is always with the idea of winning the whole thing. This is just a great place to prepare yourself for what is coming.”
Continuing to lead the Blue Devils is the top-ranked golfer in the nation, Amanda Blumenherst, who carded a one-over-par, 73. She enters the final day tied for second along with Louisville's Sara-Maude Juneau with a 36-hole total of 141 and three strokes off the individual lead. Maintaining the individual lead is South Carolina's Benedicte Toumpsin, who fired a two-under-par, 70, in the second round and owns a two-day ledger of 138. Both Toumpsin and Blumenherst will be paired together in the final round on Saturday.
“I played really well, which is frustrating that the number didn't show how I really played,” said Blumenherst. “I hit it so solid and putted really well -- just not one putt fell in. It was just constant lip-outs and leaving them short. It was really frustrating that I was playing as well as I was and shot one over because I felt like I played the same as I did yesterday, but it was quite a big difference in score.”
A native of Scottsdale, Ariz., Blumenherst registered only two birdies on Friday after collecting six the day before on her way to totaling a 73. She opened her round with eight pars and a birdie on the 150-yard, par-three No. 15 to make the turn at one-under-par, 36. Blumenherst hit a easy 7-iron on the green and made a 17-foot putt for birdie. On the back nine, she suffered bogeys on No. 1, No. 5 and No. 9 as she missed the greens on her approach shots. Blumenherst did register a birdie on the 473-yard, par-five seventh hole as she hit her second shot just short of the green and got up-and-down for the bird. For the day, Blumenherst had 34 putts, hit 14 greens and 12 fairways.
“The greens were much slower today as we were playing later and I think that had a lot to do with it because much more putts fell in yesterday,” said Blumenherst. “So I think it had to do with the growth of the greens.”
Playing as Duke's second player on Saturday after coming off shooting a career-best round of 70, freshman Kim Donovan opened the day with a double-bogey on No. 10. A product of Hopkinton, Mass., Donovan settled down to post seven pars and a three-putt bogey on the 132-yard, par-three 13th to close out the first nine holes. Donovan came out on the final nine and had three straight pars before suffering a bogey on No. 4, par on No. 5 and a birdie on the sixth hole.
She hit a solid second shot on the par-five No. 7 that ended close to green, but had an unlucky chip that went long off the putting surface and was forced to chip back on the green again. She ended up three-putting for a double-bogey. After a par on No. 8, Donovan got in trouble off the tee to the right and couldn't get up and down to save par on her final hole to finish with a 78 on Saturday. She is tied for 12th with a 148 and is looking for her first top 20 finish of the season.
Coming off one of her worst rounds of the season the day before, junior Jennie Lee came out in the second round and hit the ball much better to finish with a 75. She enters the final round tied for 49th with a 154. On Saturday, Lee opened with two pars and her only birdie of the tournament on the 511-yard, par-five No. 12. She hit her approach shot within 10 feet and made the putt. Lee closed the nine with five pars and a bogey, after three-putting from the fringe on No. 16.
After making the turn, Lee totaled six pars and bogeys on the first, fourth and seventh holes. Lee, who is from Henderson, Nev., closed the back at three-over-par. She hit 11 fairways, 11 greens and had 32 putts.
Putting was for sure the story for Blue Devil sophomore Alison Whitaker as she collected 39 putts on the day to finish with a 77. A native of Melbourne, Australia, Whitaker owns a two-day total of 152 and is tied for 33rd, individually. Whitaker notched bogeys on No. 10, No. 14 and No. 15 to go along with six pars on her way to making the turn with a three-over-par, 40. On the back, she had four consecutive pars before suffering a bogey on No. 5. Whitaker carded her lone birdie of the afternoon on the 356-yard, sixth hole and then missed an excellent chance for birdie on the par-five, No. 7 when she couldn't get up and down from in front of the green for bird. She finished the day with bogeys on her final two holes.
After registering an even-par, 72, on Thursday, senior Jennifer Pandolfi struggled on Friday turning in an 83, which was only her fourth round in the 80s this season and her worst regional round over her four years at Duke. Pandofli, who is from Navarre, Fla., will enter the final round tied for 56th with a 155.
The Blue Devils are looking for their eighth NCAA East Regional title, after winning titles in 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007.
“Yesterday, we were really sharp,” said Brooks. “Today I think we got a little frustrated and frustration doesn't work. You cannot get frustrated.”
Duke will tee off on Saturday in the final round beginning at 8:10 a.m., along with Florida and South Carolina.
Duke Notes:
* Former Duke All-America and assistant coach Kalen Anderson will be in the grouping with the Blue Devils for the first time as the head coach at South Carolina on Saturday in the final round.
* After posting 28 putts on Thursday, Kim Donovan had 32 putts on Saturday.
* Duke continues to play better in the East Regional than it did in March during the Liz Murphey Collegiate. Through 36 holes in the Liz Murphey, the Blue Devils held a 614, while in the East Regional Duke owns a 588 through 36.
* Amanda Blumenherst has finished tied for second and second in the two regionals she has played in over her career. She is looking for her 12th career individual title, which will tie for the Duke career mark, which is held by Mary Ann Widman.
* With a top 10 finish on Saturday, Amanda Blumenherst will own the Duke career record for top 10 finishes (31), which passes Liz Janangelo (30).
* The Blue Devils totaled 16 birdies in the first round and then six in the second round.
* Duke has won the NCAA East Regional seven different times.
* The Blue Devils are the reigning three-time defending NCAA Champions and have won a total of five NCAA Championships.
Duke Golfers
Amanda Blumenherst 68-73=141 (-3, t2nd)
Kim Donovan 70-78=148 (+4, t12th)
Alison Whitaker 75-77=152 (+8, t33)
Jennie Lee 79-75=154 (+10, t49)
Jennifer Pandolfi 72-83=155 (+11, t56th)
- d - u - k - e -
rank team scores
1 Florida, U of 290 295 585 +9
2 Duke 285 303 588 +12
3 South Carolina 291 303 594 +18
4 Auburn 296 302 598 +22
T5 Georgia 299 300 599 +23
T5 Furman University 292 307 599 +23
7 Wake Forest 298 305 603 +27
8 New Mexico 304 301 605 +29
9 Virginia 296 310 606 +30
10 Louisville, Univ. of 293 315 608 +32
11 East Carolina Univ. 314 297 611 +35
12 Vanderbilt 308 305 613 +37
T13 Georgia State Univ. 308 306 614 +38
T13 UNC Wilmington 312 302 614 +38
T15 Indiana University 309 313 622 +46
T15 Tennessee 311 311 622 +46
17 UCF 312 311 623 +47
18 Charleston Southern 309 315 624 +48
19 Missouri, U. of 305 320 625 +49
20 Jacksonville St. 327 315 642 +66
21 Jackson State Univ. 338 333 671 +95
Start Finish Player Team Scores
T2 1 Benedicte Toumpsin South Carolina 68 70 138 -6
1 T2 Sara-Maude Juneau Louisville, Univ. of 67 74 141 -3
T2 T2 Amanda Blumenherst Duke 68 73 141 -3
T8 T4 Carmen Perez UNC Wilmington 71 72 143 -1
T5 T4 Krystle Caithness Georgia 70 73 143 -1
T8 6 Alexandra Phelps New Mexico 71 73 144 E
4 T7 Corrine Carr Furman University 69 76 145 +1
T17 T7 Jessica Yadloczky Florida, U of 73 72 145 +1
T10 T7 Ornella Jouven Florida, U of 72 73 145 +1
T5 T7 Cydney Clanton Auburn 70 75 145 +1
T10 11 Tiffany Chudy Florida, U of 72 75 147 +3
T17 T12 Julia Potter Missouri, U. of 73 75 148 +4
T17 T12 Hannah Yun Florida, U of 73 75 148 +4
T5 T12 Kimberly Donovan Duke 70 78 148 +4
T17 T12 Marci Turner Tennessee 73 75 148 +4
T23 T16 Iliska Verwey Georgia State Univ. 74 75 149 +5
T17 T16 Emma de Groot * UT Chattanooga 73 76 149 +5
T31 T18 Anna Scott Georgia State Univ. 75 75 150 +6
T38 T18 Emelie Lind East Carolina Univ. 76 74 150 +6
T38 T18 Blair Lamb Furman University 76 74 150 +6
T23 T18 Camila Mori South Carolina 74 76 150 +6
T17 T18 Joy Kim Virginia 73 77 150 +6
T23 T18 Nannette Hill Wake Forest 74 76 150 +6
T23 T18 Candace Schepperle Auburn 74 76 150 +6
T77 T25 Amber Littman East Carolina Univ. 80 71 151 +7
T38 T25 Mercedes Huarte Jacksonville St. 76 75 151 +7
T64 T25 Liebelei Lawrence Vanderbilt 78 73 151 +7
T10 T25 Cindy LaCrosse Louisville, Univ. of 72 79 151 +7
T10 T25 Jaclyn Hilea Furman University 72 79 151 +7
T10 T25 Whitney Neuhauser Virginia 72 79 151 +7
T52 T25 Carolina Andrade Georgia 77 74 151 +7
T52 T25 Garrett Phillips Georgia 77 74 151 +7
T52 T33 Dori Carter * Mississippi, U. of 77 75 152 +8
T38 T33 Paula Hurtado * Fla. International 76 76 152 +8
T23 T33 Calle Nielson Virginia 74 78 152 +8
T38 T33 Amber Lundskog Vanderbilt 76 76 152 +8
T52 T33 Sarah Thead Auburn 77 75 152 +8
T31 T33 Alison Whitaker Duke 75 77 152 +8
T10 T33 Natalie Sheary Wake Forest 72 80 152 +8
T23 T40 Jessy Tang UCF 74 79 153 +9
T64 T40 Katrin Rumpf Charleston Southern 78 75 153 +9
T31 T40 Bly Worley South Carolina 75 78 153 +9
T31 T40 Stefanie Kenoyer Furman University 75 78 153 +9
T38 T40 Jodi Ewart New Mexico 76 77 153 +9
T38 T40 Laura Crawford Wake Forest 76 77 153 +9
T52 T40 Mariana Macias Auburn 77 76 153 +9
T38 T40 Jean Chua Wake Forest 76 77 153 +9
T31 T40 Margaret Shirley Auburn 75 78 153 +9
T38 T49 Abby Bools East Carolina Univ. 76 78 154 +10
T64 T49 Lene Krog Virginia 78 76 154 +10
T52 T49 Brooke Goodwin Vanderbilt 77 77 154 +10
T38 T49 Britney Choy New Mexico 76 78 154 +10
T23 T49 Taylor Barrett South Carolina 74 80 154 +10
T74 T49 Jennie Lee Duke 79 75 154 +10
T23 T49 Diana Cantu Tennessee 74 80 154 +10
T82 T56 Laura Nochta Indiana University 81 74 155 +11
T52 T56 Elaine Harris Indiana University 77 78 155 +11
T38 T56 Laura Anderson Louisville, Univ. of 76 79 155 +11
T77 T56 Allie Bodemann Wake Forest 80 75 155 +11
T10 T56 Jennifer Pandolfi Duke 72 83 155 +11
T74 T61 Stephanie Noser UNC Wilmington 79 77 156 +12
T64 T61 Ashley Tait UNC Wilmington 78 78 156 +12
T52 T61 Mayule Tomimbang UCF 77 79 156 +12
T38 T61 Anita Gahir Indiana University 76 80 156 +12
T38 T61 Madison Jeter Charleston Southern 76 80 156 +12
T31 T61 Olivia Jordan-Higgins Charleston Southern 75 81 156 +12
T82 T61 Morgan Grantham New Mexico 81 75 156 +12
T52 T61 Megan Grehan Vanderbilt 77 79 156 +12
T52 T61 Innapha Tantanavivat Georgia 77 79 156 +12
T31 T61 Mallory Hetzel Georgia 75 81 156 +12
T64 T71 Whitney Simons South Carolina 78 79 157 +13
T52 T71 Jennie Arseneault Virginia 77 80 157 +13
T87 T73 Katie Detlefsen UCF 82 76 158 +14
T82 T73 Leigh Crosby UCF 81 77 158 +14
T64 T73 Lindsey Haupt Missouri, U. of 78 80 158 +14
T52 T73 Lauren Harling Indiana University 77 81 158 +14
T87 T73 Mikaela Backstedt New Mexico 82 76 158 +14
T87 T73 Nicole Schachner Florida, U of 82 76 158 +14
T100 T79 Colleen Estes East Carolina Univ. 85 74 159 +15
T64 T79 Sandra Maier Georgia State Univ. 78 81 159 +15
T38 T79 Michelle Morgan Missouri, U. of 76 83 159 +15
T77 T79 Rhiannon Loebs Charleston Southern 80 79 159 +15
T100 T83 Emily Klein UNC Wilmington 85 75 160 +16
T95 T83 Claire Starkie Georgia State Univ. 83 77 160 +16
T64 T83 Madde Augustsson Missouri, U. of 78 82 160 +16
T87 T83 Ana Maria Puche East Carolina Univ. 82 78 160 +16
T82 T83 Cathrine Madsen Georgia State Univ. 81 79 160 +16
T74 T83 Kellye Belcher Indiana University 79 81 160 +16
T95 T83 Shasta Averyhardt Jackson State Univ. 83 77 160 +16
T87 T83 Nicole Smith Tennessee 82 78 160 +16
T64 91 Amanda Henry Louisville, Univ. of 78 83 161 +17
T77 T92 Stephanie Connelly UCF 80 82 162 +18
T87 T92 Portia Abbott Jacksonville St. 82 80 162 +18
T64 T92 Jenny Calkins Louisville, Univ. of 78 84 162 +18
99 T95 Liana Viljoen UNC Wilmington 84 79 163 +19
T87 T95 Jacqui Concolino Vanderbilt 82 81 163 +19
T100 T95 Rebecca Watson Tennessee 85 78 163 +19
T87 T95 Ginny Brown Tennessee 82 81 163 +19
T82 T99 Chelsea Schriewer Missouri, U. of 81 83 164 +20
T95 T99 Ashley Cox Jacksonville St. 83 81 164 +20
T104 101 Laura Cutler Jacksonville St. 86 79 165 +21
T77 102 Ashley Baker Furman University 80 87 167 +23
T100 T103 Jennifer Sells Jackson State Univ. 85 83 168 +24
T95 T103 Mirielle LaBlanc Jackson State Univ. 83 85 168 +24
T104 T105 Alexandra Espinosa Jacksonville St. 86 89 175 +31
106 T105 Lauren Ragland Jackson State Univ. 87 88 175 +31
107 107 Nikeya Peay Jackson State Univ. 94 91 185 +41
108 108 Kinsey Green Charleston Southern 121 129 250 +106
Players Mentioned
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