Tulsa
NCAA Central Regional
Tulsa Women Golfers in Ninth Place at NCAA Central Regional
5/9/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
May 9, 2002
East Lansing, Michigan - Heavy rain and lightning delayed the start of the first round of the NCAA Central Regional in East Lansing, Michigan, and the poor conditions were not too friendly to the Tulsa women's golf team.
The Hurricane carded a 27-over par 315 total, the second-worst round in 27 rounds of golf this season for the TU team. Tulsa, ranked third nationally, is in ninth place in the 21-team field following Thursday's opening round.
Due to the weather conditions, teams did not tee off until 10:30 a.m. EDT, while the afternoon start times were moved back to 2:30 p.m. EDT.
Tulsa's three-time first-team All-American Stacy Prammanasudh wasn't as affected by the conditions at the par-72 Forest Akers West Golf Course, as were her teammates. Prammanasudh fired a one-under par 71 and sits in a three-way tie for second-place.
The next closest TU score was 81, coming from both sophomore Suzie Fisher and senior Dani Mallon. The Hurricane also counted a 10-over par 82 from sophomore Julie Tvede, while junior Maiko Senda turned in a round of 84. In no other tournament this season did the Hurricane have to count three rounds in the 80s.
After shooting par on the first hole, Prammanasudh birdied the next two holes before bogeying hole four. She birdied the par-5, 461-yard second hole, and the par-4, 351-yard third hole. Prammanasudh also turned in birdies on No. 5 and 7, and completed the first nine holes with a two-under par score of 34. In the final nine holes, she parred six holes, with two bogeys and then birdied the par-5 17th hole.
"The conditions were extremely difficult today. We left the hotel at 5:45 am, and did not tee-off until 10:30. It was a long wait, and we really didn't get a good warmup, and then we just didn't get off to a good start. Usually, this year we've been able to get off to a good start," said Tulsa Head Coach Melissa McNamara.
"Fortunately for us Stacy played great golf, but the rest of the girls didn't. One golfer can keep you in it, but it will take the team to win it. They're in good spirits, though. This year we've been able to come back well after a bad round," added McNamara. "It was very windy, and the conditions were tough. Most coaches would say that par today would have been 75, and those who scored under par today played great golf." A total of six golfers played the course under par today.
In the team race, Kent State sits in first-place after a 16-over par round of 304, followed by second-place Oklahoma State's 306. Baylor and Purdue are tied for third-place and are five strokes behind the leader after rounds of 309 today. Host Michigan State is in fifth place following its round of 310. Rounding out the top-10 teams are Ohio State (311), Michigan (313), TCU (314), Tulsa (315) and Texas (316).
Individually, Baylor's Melanie Hagewood is the first round leader after carding a two-under par round of 70 today. She is followed by Prammanasudh, Kent State's Martina Gillen and Purdue's Christy Rittenhouse at one-under par 71. Last year's Central Region medallist Kari Damron of Purdue is in 59th place after an 82 today.
The top eight teams and two individuals from the 54-hole NCAA Central Regional will advance to the NCAA Championships, as will the top eight teams from both the South and West Regional.
Competition will continue on Friday with 18 holes, and conclude with the final 18 holes on Saturday.
TOP 10 TEAMS 1. Kent State 304 2. Oklahoma State 306 3. Baylor 309 Purdue 309 5. Michigan State 310 6. Ohio State 311 7. Michigan 313 8. TCU 314 9. Tulsa 315 10. Texas 316
TOP 5 INDIVIDUALS 1. Melanie Hagewood, Baylor 70 (-2) 2. Stacy Prammanasudh, Tulsa 71 (-1) Martina Gillen, Kent State 71 (-1) Christy Rittenhouse, Purdue 71 (-1) 5. Veronique Drouin, Kent State 73 (+1) Lori Sutherland, TCU 73 (+1) t48. Dani Mallon, Tulsa 81 (+9) t48. Suzie Fisher, Tulsa 81 (+9) t57. Julie Tvede, Tulsa 82 (+10) t71. Maiko Senda, Tulsa 84 (+12)
