May 6, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky women’s golf sophomore Ashleigh Albrecht remained even-keeled throughout her round Friday at the Legends Course at LPGA International (6,271 yards, par 72) en route to shooting an even par 72 in the second round of the East regional at the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championships.
The sophomore from Murrieta, Calif., opened her round with a bogey on the 12th hole after beginning on the back nine, but rebounded with three-straight birdies on hole Nos. 17, 1 and 2 to move to 2-under par. Albrecht closed out her round at even par after bogeys on Nos. 5 and 7. Friday’s round is Albrecht’s eighth round of par or better for the season, and her 12th career round of par or better, both UK records.
UK head coach Golda Johansson Borst was pleased with the Cats’ opening nine holes, but said they didn’t finish their rounds the way she wanted. As a team, Kentucky shot just 6-over par on its opening nine holes
“Today as a team we did not reach our team score goal,” Borst said. “I know they can play better than they did today and for that I am disappointed. We started off well through the front nine, but struggled to finish our rounds. I am proud of Ashleigh Albrecht for her round of 72 today. She stayed focused throughout her round despite some early rain showers and adversity throughout her round. We are itching to get out to the course tomorrow afternoon and finish the event strong.”
Sophomore Heather Lott rebounded from her first round with a seven-stroke improvement Friday to finish with a 5-over par 77.
Junior Ashlee Rose recorded a 7-over par 79, sophomore Betsie Johnson shot a 9-over par 81 and freshman Liz Breed finished with a 10-over par 82. As a team, Kentucky shot a 21-over par 309 and currently sits in 20th place after the regional’s opening two rounds.
Alabama, the regional’s No. 1 seed, leads the East regional after two rounds at 5-under par. Stephanie Meadow of Alabama leads the tournament at 5-under par.
The 72-team, 18-individual NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship field is split into three regions: the East (Daytona Beach), Central (Notre Dame, Ind.) and West (Auburn, Wash.). Each region will host 24 teams and six individuals not on those teams. The top eight teams from each of the three regions and the top two individuals, not on those teams, will then advance to the finals. The regional tournaments are considered preliminary rounds of NCAA championships competition. The finals will be held May 18-21 at the Traditions Club in Bryan-College Station, Texas, and will be hosted by Texas A&M.
Go to UKathletics.com for live scoring of Saturday’s final round, and for all Kentucky women’s golf news.
NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championships
East Regional
May 5-7
LPGA International – Legends Course (Par 72 – 6,271 yards)
Second round
Ashleigh Albrecht 77, 72 – 149 (+5)
Betsie Johnson 75, 81 – 156 (+12)
Ashlee Rose 77, 79 – 156 (+12)
Liz Breed 77, 82 – 159 (+15)
Heather Lott 84, 77 – 161 (+17)
KENTUCKY 306, 309 – 615 (+39)
