UM Leads Edwin Watts/Kiawah Island Classic
Feb. 23, 2009
Kiawah Island, S.C. – University of Miami sophomore Christina Hirano and freshman Jennifer Hirano both shot a two-over par 74, and the Hurricanes took over sole possession of first place in the 43-team field at the Edwin Watts/Kiawah Island Classic on Monday at Oak Point Golf Club.
The Hurricanes have a two-day total of 605 after shooting 17-over par 305 as a team Monday to take a one-stroke lead over second place East Tennessee State (606). Four UM golfers are sitting in the top 25 of the 215 golfers in the field. The Edwin Watts/Kiawah Island Classic is the largest collegiate women’s golf event in the country. Of the 43 teams participating in the tournament, 21 are currently ranked in the top 100 by Golfweek.
The Hurricanes have a five-stroke lead over third place Central Arkansas (610) followed by No. 34 Ole Miss (611) and No. 27 Florida (612) in the top five. Four teams ranked in the top 50 nationally are in the top 10 on the team leaderboard.
UCF’s Elisa Aoki, Nebraska’s Mary Kate Bird and Florida’s Jessica Yadloczky are all tied for first place at two-over par 146.
Christina Hirano kept Miami at the top by vaulting 10 spots into a tie for ninth place overall after shooting one-under par 35 on the front nine. She started the day on the back nine on hole 10 and shot three-over par 39 before collecting three birdies on the front nine. She is five-over par 149 for the tournament.
Jennifer Hirano followed her sister’s lead shooting even-par 36 on the front nine after starting her day with a 38 on the back nine. She finished with four birdies on the day and moved up into a tie for 19th place at seven-over par 151.
Freshman Begona Sarabia shot eight-over par 80 sliding down into a tie for 21st place after enjoying a good day one. Sarabia opened Monday shooting seven-over on the back nine with a 43. She bounced back to shoot a one-over par 37 which included birdies on holes three and seven. Sarabia is now eight-over par 152 for the tournament.
Sophomore Maria Ronderos became the fourth Hurricane in the top 25 after shooting five-over par 77 tying her for 25th overall at nine-over par 153. She was two-over par in her first nine holes on the backside. She shot three-over on the front nine and birdied twice on Monday.
Senior Anabelle Paulino posted a nine-over par 81 and is 16-over par 160 in the two days. She shot 41 on the front nine and 40 on the back nine while collecting two birdies.
The Hurricanes complete play at the Edwin Watts/Kiawah Island Classic hosted by College of Charleston on Tuesday. UM golfers will tee off between 10:25 a.m. and 11:09 a.m.
Miami Individual Results
T9 Christina Hirano 75-74=149 (+5)
T19 Jennifer Hirano 77-74=151 (+7)
T21 Begona Sarabia 72-80=152 (+8)
T25 Maria Ronderos 76-77=153(+9)
T94 Anabelle Paulino 79-81=160 (+16)
Team Results
1 Miami (Fla.) 300-305=605 (+29)
2 East Tennessee St. 300-306=606 (+30)
3 Central Arkansas 310-300=610 (+34)
4 Mississippi 305-306=611 (+35)
5 Florida 309-303=612 (+36)
6 UCF 306-307=613 (+37)
7 Kentucky 312-302=614 (+38)
T8 College of Charleston 307-310=617(+41)
T8 Western Carolina 306-311=617 (+41)
10 South Florida 314-304=618 (+42)
11 Toledo 319-300=619 (+43)
T12 Oregon 310-311=621 (+45)
T12 Oral Roberts 303-318=621 (+45)
14 Augusta State 315-307=622 (+46)
T15 MTSU 311-312=623 (+47)
