SEC WOMEN’S GOLF TOURNAMENT

Trumpeting Tubert

Coach: ‘She is still best’ in the SEC’

Arkansas golfer Emily Tubert is ranked No. 4 nationally, and Razorbacks Coach Shauna Estes-Taylor says Tubert is the best in the SEC despite Alabama’s Brooke Pancake being ranked No. 2.

— The SEC Women’s Championships will give Emily Tubert an opportunity to prove her coach right.

Tubert, the SEC co-Freshman of the Year in golf in 2011, hasn’t won a tournament this year after winning three as a freshman. But Arkansas Coach Shauna Estes-Taylor said Tubert is a better player as a sophomore.

“She is still the best player in the SEC,” said Estes-Taylor, noting that the Razorbacks have faced more difficult competition this year. “She’s kind of overlooked.”

Alabama’s Brooke Pancake comes into the tournament, which begins today at Blessings Golf Club, with top billing.

Pancake, ranked No. 2 nationally, leads No. 2 Alabama, which has three of the nation’s top eight players. Alabama is one of five SEC teams in the top 10. Three more teams are ranked in the top 24.

Tubert, who is ranked No. 4 nationally with a 72.00 stroke average, slightly behind Pancake’s 71.83, has three top-four finishes in her past four tournaments for Arkansas, which ranks No. 36.

“If you look at all my stats, they’re all better from last year,” said Tubert, of Burbank, Calif. “My consistency is a lot better. I’ve had some really good finishes. I just haven’t gotten that win this year, but if I continue doing what I’m doing my game is right where it needs to be.”

A victory by Tubert this weekend might end the debate about who is the conference’s top player. Tubert finished tied for fourth at the SEC Championships as a freshman, two strokes ahead of Pancake.

But ask Tubert about proving she’s the best, and she begins talking the condition of the Blessings course.

“We’ll see what’s going to happen,” Tubert said.

Being familiar with Blessings, a demanding 6,112-yard course, should be an advantage for Tubert.

“It’s definitely one of the hardest golf courses I’ve ever played, but it’s also one of the best,” Tubert said. “You can’t for one second let up, or it will eat you alive.

“It’s a home-court advantage, absolutely. We’ve played it a bunch.”

Estes-Taylor used Arkansas’ role as tournament host as part of her recruiting pitch two years ago, and Tubert said she’s amazed the time has gone by so quickly.

“She is catching her stride at the right time of our season,” Estes-Taylor said. “I’ve told everyone she’s like a racehorse in the gate, ready to take off. Every part of her game is in solid shape.”

Tubert won’t be intimidated by tough competition after going from being one of the top junior players in the country to one of the top collegians, finishing 19th at nationals as a freshman. This past summer, she made the cut at the LPGA’s Northwest Arkansas Classic at Pinnacle Country Club.

“Every week, she has had to go up against the best of the best across the country,” Estes-Taylor said. “Even though she hasn’t gotten a victory, she has been in contention a ton. The whole body of work has been impressive.”

But Tubert said she hasn’t come close to playing her best.

“I still have a lot back in reserve,” she said. “I hope everything is going to click this week.”

Tee times

Today Blessings Golf Club, Fayetteville Course: 6,112 yards Par: 72 Round 1 of 3

HOLE 1

8:30 a.m. Amelia Hill (Georgia), Anna Leigh Keith (Vanderbilt), AJ Newell (Tennessee) 8:40 a.m. Milena Savich (Georgia), Irina Gabasa (Vanderbilt), Sara Monberg (Tennessee) 8:50 a.m. Rocio Sanchez Lobato (Georgia), Rene Sobolewski (Vanderbilt), Kaitlyn Rohrback (Tennessee) 9 a.m. Marta Silva Zamora (Georgia), Lauren Stratton (Vanderbilt), Nathalie Mansson (Tennessee) 9:10 a.m. Emilie Burger (Georgia), Marina Alex (Vanderbilt), Erica Popson (Tennessee) 9:20 a.m. Johanna Tillström (Alabama), Patricia Sanz (Auburn), Lindsay Gahm (LSU) 9:30 a.m. Hannah Collier (Alabama), Haley Wilson (Auburn), Jacqueline Hedwell (LSU) 9:40 a.m. Stephanie Meadow (Alabama), Victoria Trapani (Auburn), Madelene Sagstrom (LSU) 9:50 a.m. Brooke Pancake (Alabama), Carlie Yadloczky (Auburn), Tessa Teachman (LSU) 10 a.m. Jennifer Kirby (Alabama), Marta Sanz (Auburn), Austin Ernst (LSU)

HOLE 12

8:30 a.m. Taelor Rubin (Ole Miss), Ashlee Rose (Kentucky), Perry Katherine Furr (Mississippi St.) 8:40 a.m. Ericka Schneider (Ole Miss), Heather Lott (Kentucky), Elena Warren (Mississippi St.) 8:50 a.m. Haley Sanders (Ole Miss), Betsie Johnson (Kentucky), Mary Langdon Gallagher (Mississippi St.) 9 a.m. Haley Millsap (Ole Miss), Liz Breed (Kentucky), Rica Tse (Mississippi St.) 9:10 a.m. Natalie Gleadall (Ole Miss), Ashleigh Albrecht (Kentucky), Ally McDonald (Mississippi St.) 9:20 a.m. Isabelle Lendl (Florida), Justine Dreher (S. Carolina), Emily Podzielinski (Arkansas) 9:30 a.m. Mia Piccio (Florida), Samantha Swinehart (S. Carolina), Hally Leadbetter (Arkansas) 9:40 a.m. Andrea Watts (Florida), Meredith Swanson (S. Carolina), Victoria Vela (Arkansas) 9:50 a.m. Camilla Hedberg (Florida), Amanda Strang (S. Carolina), Emma Lavy (Arkansas) 10 a.m. Evan Jensen (Florida), Katie Burnett (S. Carolina), Emily Tubert (Arkansas)

Sports, Pages 17 on 04/20/2012