Arkansas Leads Stacked Field at ANNIKA Intercollegiate; Gopher Women 11th

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By Nick Hunter
nick@mngolf.org


  EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – In one of the toughest fields in collegiate golf, the University of Arkansas women’s golf team posted a team score of even par 288 to take an early three-stroke lead following the first 18 holes of play at the 2017 ANNIKA Intercollegiate Presented by 3M at Olympic Hills Golf Club.

In the event’s fourth year, and first outside of Orlando, Fla., the field boasts two of the nation’s top-10 teams and another four currently ranked inside the top-20, according to Golfweek.

The University of Minnesota, coming off a 15th-place finish at the Coeur d’Alene Collegiate Invitational in Idaho Wednesday, got strong performances from a pair of freshman in Grace Kellar and Joanne Free, who finished the opening round Sunday in a tie for 14th with a round of 74.

“We have a really young team—we’ve got three freshman in the lineup and two of the three played really well today, so we’re really close,” Minnesota head coach Michele Redman said Sunday. “Jo and Grace both played really solid.

“We haven’t had a lot of time to practice this fall so they’re learning out on the golf course, which is good, but there still some work we need to do around the green with the short game. That’s kind of hurting us right now. I don’t want to see anything different out of them than what I saw today—just continue to work hard and improve.”

Junior Muyu Wu, the Gophers’ No. 1 player this week, struggled in the cold and rainy conditions Sunday, posting a 7-over par 79, while freshman Kate Lillie played her front nine at 1-over before carding five bogeys and a double over the final nine to finish the first round tied for 49th at 8-over par 80.

Arkansas, the top-ranked team in women’s college golf, showcased its depth Sunday, getting strong performances from its top four golfers, all of whom finished the first round inside the top-15. The Razorbacks finished second at last year’s event, while Maria Fassi earned medalist honors as a sophomore to collect her second career victory.

“It was a tough day with the conditions, but I think the golf course was set up fairly,” Arkansas head coach Shauna Estes-Taylor said Sunday. “I’m really proud to be in a position to accomplish our goal, but you can’t do that on the first day. We were over par early and really fought hard down the stretch.

“Maria Fossi made eagle on the last hole to shoot 2-under, so she played solid. [Alana Uriell], our senior, shot 1-under and Dylan Kim was 3-over through five holes and shot 1-over. I thought we grinded well—it was a grindy kind of day and it’s going to be the same tomorrow. The conditions are the same for everyone and attitude can be worth a shot or two.”

Stanford University freshman Mika Liu fired a 4-under par 68 Sunday to earn a share of the individual lead with the University of Southern California’s Robynn Ree. Liu got off to an incredible start with four birdies and an eagle over her first seven holes, turning at 6-under par. Liu would card two birdies on the back nine, but two bogeys and a double-bogey put her at 4-under 68 and into a share of the 18-hole lead.

“I had a lot of great shots and thought my overall game was fantastic,” Liu said following her round Sunday. “I hit my drives in the right positions and iron shots, especially my hybrids on the par-3’s, was incredible. I holed out on two for eagle and almost holed out again on the back nine. I had everything going.

“I’m expecting the rain to be heavier tomorrow so I have to be mentally prepared for that. This course sets up well for me. It’s challenging, but you have opportunities on the par-5’s.”

Ree, a junior who is ranked among the top-40 amateurs in the world thanks to a pair of All-American seasons at USC, rolled in four birdies with two bogeys on her front side Sunday, and finished the opening round by carding three birdies with a bogey over her final six holes to shoot 68 and sit atop the leader board with Liu.

The 2017 ANNIKA Intercollegiate Presented by 3M continues Tuesday with second-round tee times beginning at 9 a.m. at Olympic Hills Golf Club.



THE 2017 ANNIKA INTERCOLLEGIATE PRESENTED BY 3M
OLYMPIC HILLS GOLF CLUB
EDEN PRAIRIE, MINN.
6,288 YARDS, PAR 72


SUNDAY’S TEAM RESULTS
1. Arkansas – 288
2. South Carolina – 291
3. Stanford – 294
4. UCLA – 295
5. USC – 299
T6. Furman – 300
T6. Texas – 300
8. Florida State – 301
9. Baylor – 302
10. Georgia – 305
11. MINNESOTA – 307
12. Miami – 308


SUNDAY’S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
T1. Robynn Ree, USC, 34-34—68
T1. Mika Liu, Stanford, 30-38—68
T3. Maria Fassi, Arkansas, 33-37—70
T3. Natalie Srinivasan, Furman, 36-34—70
T3. Renate Grimstad, Miami, 35-35—70
T6. Alana Uriell, Arkansas, 36-35—71
T6. Anita Uwadia, South Carolina, 35-36—71
T6. Amanda Doherty, Florida St., 35-36—71
T6. Patty Tavatanakit, UCLA, 36-35—71
T6. Lois Kaye Go, South Carolina, 34-37—71

T14. GRACE KELLAR, MINNESOTA, 38-36—74
T14. JOANNE FREE, MINNESOTA, 36-38—74
T47. MUYU WU, MINNESOTA, 39-40—79
T49. KATE LILLIE, MINNESOTA, 37-43—80
59. SABRINE GARRISON, MINNESOTA, 42-43—85


For complete tournament results go to:  http://results.golfstat.com/public/leaderboards/gsnav.cfm?pg=team&tid=13891