Hogs miss cut at LPGA tournament

Maria Fassi, from the University of Arkansas, watches her drive off the 10th tee Friday, June 24, 2016 during the LPGA Wal-Mart NW Arkansas Championship at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers. Fassi earned a spot in the tournament with a sponsors exemption.

— Three amateur Razorbacks played in this weekend’s tournament, with Maria Fassi earning a sponsor’s exemption, and Regina Plasencia and Alana Uriell qualifying Monday. But all three missed the cut.

The lowest scorer was Fassi, who used a 2-under 69 on Saturday to get to even par. The UA sophomore said she would compete in the Canadian and U.S. Amateur championships this summer.

Plasencia finished 1 over and will take a couple of weeks off before beginning LPGA qualifying school in August. The time off will be invaluable after she playedfollows nearly 100 holes played over the lastpast seven days.

“The main thing I learned is that rest is important,” Plasencia said. “Today I really felt, especially on the last five or six holes, that I was tired. My legs weren’t responding.”

Although Uriell had the worst score among the group, she had the best chance of making the cut. She made the turn at 1-under Saturday, two shots off the cut line, but imploded on the front nine.

A triple bogey on No. 2 and two bogeys on the final three holes gave her a 3-over score for the tournament.

“I got a little bit nervous I think,” Uriell said. “My swing kind of started to deteriorate at that point. It was kind of thoughtless mistakes that cost me the whole thing.”

Uriell will return to the course July 11, when she competes in a U.S. Amateur qualifier in Vista Valley, Calif., which is just down the road from her home in Carlsbad, Calif.

Former Hogs Make Cut

It took a strong back nine, but former Razorbacks Stacy Lewis and Gaby Lopez made the cut and will be playing Sunday.

Lewis, the No. 10 player in the world, bogeyed her first hole of the day to drop to 3 under and stayed there with 10 consecutive pars. She birdied Nos. 12 and 15, finishing at 5 under.

“I just wanted to play on Sunday, so I knew I needed to step it up on the back nine,” Lewis said. “They are shooting historic numbers, and I know 1-under’s just not going to cut it.”

Lopez was even closer to missing the cut. She hit the stick on No. 11, and it ricocheted into a hazard, leading to a double bogey that dropped her to even par.

A birdie on No. 15 got one shot back, but the rookie still needed to make a 45-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole to sneak inside the 3-under cut line.

“I knew what I needed to do, but at the same time, I gave myself every opportunity I could,” Lopez said. “I was just burning every edge of the hole, and I needed to stay patient. It actually paid off on the last hole.”

Hog Hat

Before their post-round interview, Golf Channel personality and former Arkansas golfer Lisa Cornwell gave world No. 1 and co-leader Lydia Ko a piece of Razorback gear to wear today.

“I’m going to wear the Hog hat,” Ko said. “Hopefully the crowds will be as excited as I will be, and I’ll try to practice the ‘Woo Pig Sooie.’ It’s cool to get in the spirit.”