University of Georgia Athletics
University of Georgia
NCAA West Regional
Georgia Golfers Gain, Lose Ground At West Regional
May 06, 2011 | Women's Golf
May 6, 2011
AUBURN, Wash. --- The No. 12-ranked Georgia women's golf team carded a 15-over 303 in Friday's second round of the NCAA West Regional at the Washington National Golf Club.
In the process, the Bulldogs ascended from 18th to 15th on the team leaderboard. However, after entering the day 11 shots from eighth place and the final qualifying spot of the NCAA Championships, Georgia slipped to 14 strokes away from that "cut."
Emilie Burger's 3-under 69 paced the Bulldogs on Friday. Georgia also counted a 73 from Marta Silva Zamora, an 80 by Kiara Hayashida and an 81, the tally posted by both Abby Johnson and Milena Savich.
Burger birdied No. 1 and No. 4 to quickly move to 2-under. She gave a stroke back with her lone bogey of the day at No. 8. On the back side, Burger birdied No. 13 and No. 18 to finish at 3-under.
The day began promising for the Bulldogs. Georgia turned at 1-over, with Silva Zamora at 2-under, Burger at 1-under, Johnson at even and Hayashida at 4-over. Big numbers damaged the Bulldogs on the back half, where Georgia counted five double-dogeys.
"I was pleased with the fight we showed," head coach Kelley Hester said. "Burger and Marta played well. The conditions got tougher as the day went on. We put ourselves in such a big hole yesterday. If we start how we did today and can finish it off tomorrow, we'll see what happens."
Georgia played No. 15 at 5-over.
"The hole location on 15 was about three paces onto the green and there's water," Hester said. "That one got the better of us."
Top-ranked Southern Cal remained atop the team leaderboard. The Women of Troy shot 4-under on Friday and are at 572 through 36 holes. Rounding out the eight teams in position for NCAA berths are No. 13 Tennessee at 579, No. 6 Virginia at 591, No. 22 UC Davis at 592, No. 7 Arizona at 596, Washington at 598, South Carolina at 602 and Texas A&M and Oregon both at 603. The Bulldogs are at 617.
Individually, Tennessee Erica Popson tops the field at 7-under 137. She leads Lizette Salas of Southern Cal by three shots. For Georgia, Burger vaulted from 26th to a tie for fifth at even-par 144, Silva Zamora is tied for 19th at 148, Savich is tied for 102nd at 161, Hayashida is tied for 115th at 164 and Johnson is 120th at 166.
Georgia will be paired with Oklahoma and Pepperdine for Sunday's final round, teeing off beginning at 12:30 p.m. PT. The top-12 teams will play in the morning.
"I guess we'll know what we need to do when we tee off," Hester said.
The top-eight teams and the top-two individual finishers who are not members of an advancing team will earn bids to the NCAA Championships on May 18-21 at Texas A&M's Traditions Golf Club.
NCAA West Regional
Washington National Golf Club
Auburn, Wash.
Par 72, 6321 Yards
Friday's Second-Round Standings
Team Leaderboard
Southern Cal 288-284=572
Tennessee 292-287=579
Virginia 290-301=591
UC Davis 300-292=592
Arizona 303-293=596
Washington 304-294=598
South Carolina 303-299=602
Texas A&M 302-302=603
Oregon 302-301=603
Iowa State 304-306=611
BYU 303-311=614
Denver 307-307=614
Oklahoma 316-300=616
Georgia 314-303=617
Pepperdine 318-299=617
Portland State 305-311=616
San Diego State 310-311=621
Texas San Antonio 311-313=624
Tulsa 310-315=625
New Mexico 310-318=628
San Jose State 315-316=631
New Mexico State 319-315=634
Oral Roberts 320-314=634
Texas El Paso 321-324=645
Individual Leaderboard
Erica Popson, Tennessee 68-69=137
Lizette Salas, Southern Cal 73-67=140
Demi Runas, UC Davis 69-72=141
Sophia Popov, Southern Cal 69-73=142
Anya Alvarez, Washington 70-72=144
Emilie Burger, Georgia 75-69=144
Rachel Morris, Southern Cal 73-71=144
Isabelle Boineau, Arizona 75-70=145
Sara Monberg, Tennessee 75-70=145
Grace Na, Pepperdine 76-69=145
Georgia Scores
T19. Marta Silva Zamora 75-73=148
T102. Milena Savich 80-81=161
T115. Kiara Hayashida 84-80=164
120. Abby Johnson 85-81=166
