Arkansas’ second round suspended by high winds at NCAA golf tourney

UA Women’s Communications

Posted on Thursday, May 22, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/nwat/65448/

ALBUQUERQUE, N. M. — The 10 th-ranked University of Arkansas golf team moved up the leaderboard Wednesday but high winds halted the Lady Razorback attack four holes into play at the 2008 NCAA Women’s Golf Championship in Albuquerque.

Play was suspended at 2: 10 p. m. for two hours as winds gusting as high as 55 mph blew golf balls around the greens and off tees before the completion of the first round.

Teams were sent back out to resume but winds kept the course unplayable and competition was halted for the day at 4: 55 p. m.

The 12 teams still attempting to complete their first round will return to the course beginning play at 8 a. m. central. The schedule for the remainder of the four-day event is still being decided.

“ You just can’t control Mother Nature, ” Arkansas head coach Shauna Estes-Taylor said. “ We were prepared to play and started the day with the intent to do our best. This actually might work to our advantage. Conditions might be better in the morning although it is supposed to be windy the rest of the week. ”

Arkansas was playing well through the opening holes of the second round. The Lady Razorbacks started their day tied for 13 th overall but were just plus-four on the par 72, 6, 424-yard University of New Mexico Golf Course.

Senior Stacy Lewis and sophomore Alex Schulte were each even when play ended Wednesday. Arkansas started on the 10 th hole and Schulte had played six before coming into the clubhouse. Lewis was through three. Sophomore Kristin Ingram, junior Lucy Nunn and freshman Kelli Shean were all plus-two in the early going.

“ It was just crazy, ” Estes-Taylor said. “ We were hitting a pitching wedge 120 yards today. Alex was on the green on 11 and taking a practice swing when her ball rolled back off to the fringe. She had to move back and play it from further back. I’ve just never seen anything like this. ”

Arkansas moved up to a tie for sixth but had only completed six holes. Twelve teams finished their morning round with second-ranked USC and No. 3 UCLA tied for the lead with 584. Ninthranked Denver was third was the best round of the day — a 6-over 294 for 587.

Fourth-ranked Arizona State remained in fourth followed by No. 1 Duke, No. 7 Georgia and No. 5 Florida.