Mother Nature hasn’t played any favorites at Colorado National Golf Club in Erie.
A year ago, she dealt up some absolutely miserable weather conditions for the first round of the men’s NCAA regional at the course. And on Friday, she gave the women’s NCAA regional a taste of the same.
With the host University of Colorado playing in low-40-degree temperatures and intermittent rain on Friday afternoon, the Buffs remained on the bubble in their attempt to qualify for the NCAA Championship Finals for the first time in program history.
CU, seeded fourth in the 24-team field and ranked 10th or 11th in the nation, dropped to ninth place in the team standings at the NCAA West Regional. The Buffs need to finish in the top eight after Saturday’s final round to advance to the finals, scheduled for May 22-25 in Franklin, Tenn. CU is one stroke out of eighth place and two out of seventh.
The problem is, the Buffs may have to play the pivotal final round with four golfers instead of five, which would be a big disadvantage given that the best four scores any given day count toward the team total. Sophomore Alex Stewart, who leads the team in stroke average, withdrew from round 2 after 14 holes on Friday due to illness. Because she was 8 over par for the round at the time, her score likely would have been the one CU threw out on Friday, so the withdrawal didn’t have an immediate effect. If she can return Saturday, her score can help the team total, but if she can’t, CU won’t be able to toss out its high score.
“We need five (Saturday),” coach Anne Kelly said. “It’s a lot of pressure going in (if Stewart is out), but we’ll deal with it if it happens.”
Added senior Emily Talley (pictured): “I hope Alex is feeling better because then the weight won’t be on just four of us.”
The Buffs did easily win a tournament in October 2010 at Colorado National with only four players competing in the final round after several teammates were involved in a three-car accident the night before. But the field for the CU Heather Farr Memorial Invitational is not what it is for the NCAA West Regional.
“Alex is a very big part of this team, so obviously not having her in the lineup will hurt a bit,” said senior Jessica Wallace, the individual champion at the 2010 Heather Farr tournament. “But (last time it happened) everyone kind of stepped up. We’ve done it before so I’m very confident in the four players that are for sure playing tomorrow and if Alex is able to play, it’s just a welcome addition.”
With a 22-over-par 598 total, CU will go into the final round 18 strokes off the pace being set by leader Stanford. But more importantly, the Buffs are just five strokes removed from fifth place and six shots removed from 16th place.
Yes, it’s that close.
“Going in, we were the fourth seed, and I feel if we don’t finish that or better we’ll be a little disappointed,” said Talley, who bogeyed all four par-5s on Friday. “But if we can make it to nationals we’ll be pleased no matter what.”
On Friday, sophomore Jennifer Coleman dealt with the inclement weather the best, shooting an even-par 72. But no other Buff broke 75. It was similar to Thursday in that regard. Also similar is that CU didn’t finish its round well. On Friday, the Buffs went 3 over par just on No. 18, with Wallace taking a double bogey and Kristin Coleman a bogey.
The Buffs hope those trends don’t continue on Saturday.
“I know (we’re) not where we wanted to be,” Wallace said. “But the fact of the matter is, we play well tomorrow and we’ve got it.”
Both of the other Colorado-based schools also struggled on Friday. The University of Denver, making an NCAA regionals appearance for the 11th straight year, posted a 311 score and stands at 615 overall, good for 19th place. The University of Northern Colorado (324 for a 635 total) is in 23rd place in the 24-team field.
Catherine O’Donnell of North Carolina leads the individual competition after two rounds as she’s carded scores of 70-69 for a 5-under 139 total.
The Coleman sisters and Colorado State senior Brianna Espinoza are the top individuals from Colorado schools, all standing in 30th place at 5-over-par 149. Also at that figure is former Colorado state high school champion Somin Lee, a freshman at Pepperdine.
Another former state high school champ, New Mexico’s Beth Buchner, struggled to an 81 on Friday, which left her at 157 overall.
CU will tee off No. 10 on Saturday beginning at 7:30 a.m., while DU and UNC will start at 12:55 p.m. off Nos. 1 and 10, respectively.
Admission is free for spectators.
NCAA West Regional
At Par-72 Colorado National GC in Erie
9. Colorado 297-301–598
30. Jennifer Coleman 77-72–149; 30. Kristin Coleman 71-78–149; 40. Jessica Wallace 75-75–150; 54. Emily Talley 76-76–152; 126. Alex Stewart 75-NS.
19. Denver 304-311–615
54. Kelly Drack 75-77–152; 63. Tonje Daffinrud 76-77–153; 71. Rachael Watton 76-78–154; 91. Sarah Faller 77-79–156; 111. Anna Christenson 77-84–161.
23. Northern Colorado 311-324–635
54. Carleigh Silvers 75-77–152; 95. Chelsea Silvers 78-79–157; 117. Hannah McNeley 80-83–163; 120. Libby Avery 78-90–168; 121. Ali Nelson 84-85–169.
Other Scores of Local Interest
30. Somin Lee, Pepperdine, 75-74–149; 30. Brianna Espinoza, Colorado State, 76-73–149; 95. Beth Bucher, New Mexico, 76-81–157.
For complete scores, CLICK HERE.
