Zags Complete Lightning-Delayed Round Two
5/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Complete Results | Tournament Central
SAN ANTONIO, Texas—The Gonzaga University women's golf team improved on day two of the NCAA Regionals despite a two-and-a-half hour lightning delay, climbing up the leaderboard at Briggs Ranch Golf Course Friday in San Antonio.
As the Zags were roughly three-quarters done with their round Friday, lightning struck within 10 miles of Briggs Ranch Golf Course. They were pulled off the course due to the weather and had to sit through a two hour, 41 minute delay before being able to finish their final holes.
"Overall I was much happier with our play today, but I do wish we would've played better after the lightning delay," GU head coach Brad Rickel of his team's second round. "At this stage, though, you have to have four good scores. Three is not enough."
Senior Alice Kim remained the top Zag, staying in the top 20 with a round of 73 (+1). She made the first turn onto the front nine at 2-under-par but picked up those two strokes and one more when starting on the front nine. After the lightning delay, Kim parred out, ending the round with five straight. She is currently tied for 19th at 1-under-par 143.
"Alice played very well today, but putts just didn't fall quite as often as she needed," Rickel said. "But all in all, she played solid golf."
Sophomore Ciera Min shot the lowest round on the team Friday, turning in a score of even-par 72. She once again started the round with three birdies through six holes but bogeyed four of the next seven. During her final five holes, however, she got back to even with a birdie and four pars. With the round, she moved up into a tie for 38th at 145 (+1) for the tournament.
"Ciera hit the ball really well and actually flew straight over pins four or five times, which cost her a couple bogeys," Rickel said. "She was just hitting the ball further than normal."
Senior Han Wu climbed a few spots, shooting 75 (+3) during the second round. She posted eight pars and a birdie on the back nine to start the round, but the La Mirada, Calif. native ended the round with four straight bogeys once returning from the delay. She and teammate Raychelle Santos are tied for 88th with 159 strokes (+15). Santos shot 80 (+8) on the day, posting two birdies and nine pars en route to the score.
"Han was much better today and close to a really good round. She just didn't play very well after the weather stoppage."
Rounding out the Zag lineup, freshman Dania Uy shot 15-over-par 87, improving by nine strikes overnight. She's in 95th at 183 strokes (+39).
As a team, the Zags moved up to 16th with a score of 300 (+12) on the day. They've tallied a two-day total of 606 (+30) and sit within seven strokes of two teams. Tennessee leads the team competition at 557 (-19) while Texas occupies sixth and would be the final team to advance to the NCAA Championships at 571 (-5). The top six teams earn a spot to the title tournament.
Individually, Baylor's Hayley Davis held onto medalist honors and sits atop the standings at 135 (-9), one stroke ahead of two other players. Oregon's Kelsey Ulep, Florida State's Morgane Metraux, and Kansas' Yupaporn Kawinpakorn are all tied for fourth with 138 strokes (-6) and hold the individual advancing positions.
The Zags wrap up the San Antonio Regional Saturday, May 9, with one final round at Briggs Ranch Golf Course. They'll begin on the No. 10 tee starting at 7:09 a.m. Pacific (9:09 local) when Uy hits the course.
