Hurricanes Lead Edwin Watts/Kiawah Island Classic by Seven Strokes Heading into the Final Round
Feb. 21, 2011
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – The University of Miami women’s golf team shot their second straight round under 300 at the Edwin Watts/Kiawah Island Classic on Monday to bolt into first place with one round to go from Kiawah Island, S.C. The second round score of 297 at Oak Point Golf Club put the Hurricanes at 593 strokes overall, seven ahead of second place Campbell University heading into Tuesday’s final round.
Florida International and Western Carolina each sit eight strokes behind the `Canes in a tie for third.
The Hurricanes will look to clinch the team championship of the event for the third straight year on Tuesday at the largest women’s collegiate golf tournament in the country with 33 teams and 173 players involved. Twelve of the top 100 nationally ranked teams are involved in this year’s field.
Monday’s charge to the top of the leaderboard was a total team effort as all five players played within five-over par. Senior Maria Ronderos shot the lowest round of the group with an even-par 72 with three birdies and three bogeys. It marked her second even-par score in four rounds this spring. She sits in tie for eighth overall amongst individuals with a score of four-over par combined.
Juniors Jennifer Hirano and Patricia Arana each shot the same score, 76, for the second consecutive day. They had contrasting 76 rounds as Arana carded two birdies on the day to go with four bogeys and one double bogey. Hirano converted all pars with the exception of four bogeys. The two sit in a tie for 12th.
Senior Christina Hirano is also in a tie for 12th after she put out a 77 with one birdie and six bogeys.
Freshman Carina Cuculiza finished her round off strong with two birdies to total a one-over par 73 on the day. She totaled four birdies Monday and is currently tied for 30th.
First-year head coach Patti Rizzo has been pleased with the performance of her team so far. “I’m so proud of them. The energy is good and they are all mentally strong heading into Tuesday,” she said.
The two courses, Cougar Point Golf Course and Oak Point Golf Club, have played well for the Miami players, as many have called them the perfect distance for their games.
The Hurricanes will head back to Cougar Point Golf Course for Tuesday’s third and final round. Miami will be grouped with players from Campbell and FIU with the shotgun start set for 9:00 a.m.
Be sure to follow @hurricanesports on Twitter as well as HurricaneSports.com and Golfstat for final round results from Kiawah Island.
