University of Oregon
NCAA West Regional
Ducks Move up to 10th after NCAA West Regional Second Round
05/07/04 | Women's Golf
STANFORD, Calif. ? Johnna Nealy matched her lowest round of the season with an even-par 72 Friday and Michelle Timpani added a 74 as Oregon shot a 15-over 303 and climbed a spot to 10th place following the second round of the NCAA West Regional, contested at the 6,159-yard, par-72 Stanford Golf Course.
"We've continued to put ourselves in a position to make it to nationals, so I feel good about what we've accomplished so far," said Oregon coach Shannon Rouillard. "We've hung in and kept it together for two rounds now."
The 10th-seeded Ducks finished the day just two strokes out of eighth place, which is key because the top eight teams from the three-round event at Stanford will advance to the NCAA Championships May 18-21 at Auburn.
Saturday's final round promises to be one heck of a shoot-out as just eight strokes separate the seventh-through-13th placed teams. Oregon will be paired with Arizona State and Pepperdine and will tee off at 8:30 a.m.
The team standings find No. 2 UCLA hanging on to its lead over No. 3 California by five strokes. The Bruins shot a 293 Friday for a 575 two-round total, while the Bears fired a 289 to pick up four strokes on UCLA at 579. No. 23 Stanford held on to third at 590, while surprising Denver, the 17th seed for the regional, shot a 299 Friday and was fourth with a 601 total. No. 8 Georgia and No. 15 Texas, which had a 296 Friday, were tied for fifth at 602.
The next pack of teams consisted of No. 4 Ohio State in seventh at 605, Washington State eighth at 606, No. 12 Washington ninth at 607, Oregon 10th at 608, Arizona State 11th at 610, Pepperdine 12th at 612 and Texas Tech and San Diego State tied for 13th at 613.
"We just need to stay focused because the teams on the bubble who will advance tomorrow are the ones who are mentally tough," said Rouillard.
Nealy had an uneventful front nine Friday, opening with eight straight pars before birdieing the ninth hole. Then things got interesting. The junior from Grants Pass, Ore., bogeyed No. 10 and No. 11 to drop to 1-over, but birdied 12 to get back to even. She then bogeyed No. 13 and No. 16, falling to 2-over, but closed with birdies on No. 17 and No. 18 to finish her day at level par. It was her fourth round of 72 this season and matched the even-par round she shot at Stanford's course last fall. Overall, Nealy was tied for 26th at 6-over 150.
"Johnna played tremendously coming home birdieing those last two holes," said Rouillard. "She displayed a lot of courage and leadership getting back to even par the way she did."
Timpani, a sophomore from Gig Harbor, Wash., had two birdies and four bogeys en route to a 74, which was also her best effort in 10 career rounds at Stanford. Her previous low at the course was a 78. For the tournament, Timpani and teammate Therese Wenslow, who shot a 79 Friday, were tied for 41st at 153.
"Michelle played solid golf," said Rouillard. "She just knew she was going to have a good round today."
Sophomore Erin Andrews rounded out Oregon's scoring by firing a 78 Friday. She was tied for 37th at 152.
Hannah Jun of UCLA shot a 1-under 71 Friday to continue to hold the individual lead. She's at 6-under 138 for the tournament. Allison Hanna of Ohio State was second at 141, while UCLA's Charlotte Mayorkas was third at 142.
NCAA West Regional
Stanford Golf Course
Stanford, Calif.
Second Round
6,159-yards, par-72
Team Scores - 1, UCLA, 282-292-575. 2, California, 290-289-579. 3, Stanford, 293-297-590. 4, Denver, 302-299-601. 5 (tie), Texas, 306-296-602; Georgia, 304-298-602. 7, Ohio State, 303-302-605. 8, Washington State, 302-304-606. 9, Washington, 298-309-607. 10, Oregon, 305-303-608. 11, Arizona State, 312-298-610. 12, Pepperdine, 300-312-612. 13 (tie), Texas Tech, 304-309-613; San Diego State, 310-303-613. 15, Cal State Northridge, 310-305-615. 16, Brigham Young, 310-307-617. 17, San Jose State, 311-308-619. 18, San Francisco, 308-313-621. 19, New Mexico State, 318-305-623. 20, Portland State, 320-308-628. 21, Oral Roberts, 328-320-648.
Oregon Individuals - 26 (tie), Johnna Nealy, 78-72-150. 37 (tie), Erin Andrews, 74-78-152. 41 (tie), Michelle Timpani, 79-74-153; Therese Wenslow, 74-79-153. 98 (tie), Kim McCready, 81-83-164.
- www.GoDucks.com -
Players Mentioned
