Miami Tied for First After Round One of the Edwin Watts/Kiawah Island Classic
Feb. 20, 2011
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – Playing in tough windy conditions at Cougar Point Golf Course, the University of Miami women’s golf team shot into a tie for first place following the first round of the Edwin Watts/Kiawah Island Classic. Juniors Patricia Arana and Jennifer Hirano each shot a one-over par 73 to lead the charge on day one from Kiawah Island, S.C.
The Hurricanes presently sit in a tie for first with James Madison University with a score of 296. Currently, eleven teams are within nine strokes of the lead. The Edwin Watts/Kiawah Island Classic is the largest women’s collegiate golf tournament in the country with 33 teams and 172 players in this year’s field. Miami has won this event the last two years.
Arana, playing in her second tournament as a ‘Cane, and Jennifer Hirano each shot their best round of the spring carding a 73, tied for eighth amongst individuals. Arana played a steady round with one birdie and two bogeys, while Hirano knocked in three birdies to go with four bogeys.
Senior Christina Hirano also played well shooting a two-over par 74. She started out fast with a two-under 34 on the back nine. All five Hurricanes started on hole number 10. Hirano ran into trouble at the par three sixth, but managed to finish tied for 15th heading into round two.
Senior Maria Ronderos is tied for 34th after round one with 76 strokes. It was a tough start on the back nine for her, but the experienced golfer righted the ship on the front nine with an even par 36 to help herself and the team to a solid position after day one.
Rounding out Miami’s scorecard was freshman Carina Cuculiza, who notched two birdies during her round of 79.
The ‘Canes look to shoot another round under 300, as they will move over to Oak Point Golf Club Monday morning for round two. Miami will start at hole one with Cuculiza scheduled to begin at 10:23 a.m., followed by Ronderos, C. Hirano, Arana and J. Hirano in succession. All will play in groups with golfers from Wichita State University and Middle Tennessee State.
The tournament will conclude with the final round on Tuesday.
Check Golfstat and HurricaneSports.com for the latest news and results from Kiawah Island, S.C.
