Ras-Anderica Three Strokes Off Lead at ACC

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Miami Hurricanes sophomore Leticia Ras-Anderica is in sixth place and three strokes off the lead after Friday’s opening round of the 2013 ACC Women’s Golf Championship. The Canes are in ninth place heading into Saturday’s second round.

As a team, the Hurricanes shot 30-over 314 and are three strokes behind Boston College and Maryland for seventh place. No. 3 Duke leads the field by seven strokes after a first-round 293; No. 13 Virginia is second at 16-over 300, followed by No. 21 NC State in third at 17-over 301.

“Leticia [Ras-Anderica], Rika [Park] and Christina [Ocampo] played really well until the last four holes,” assistant coach John Koskinen said. “We didn’t finish how we wanted. We were in fourth with four holes to go and had a rough finish. We just need to stop making careless mistakes.”

No individuals turned in a sub-par round Friday. Virginia’s Brittney Altomare leads the field of 45 after an even-par 71, giving her a one stroke lead over NC State’s Augusta James, Duke’s Alejandra Cangrejo and North Carolina’s Elizabeth Mallett, who are all tied for second at 1-over 72.

Three strokes behind the leader is Ras-Anderica, who held a one-stroke lead through 10 holes. Making her second career ACC Championship appearance, Ras-Anderica was even-par through her opening nine holes off the back nine. Her opening round included a 25-foot putt for eagle on No. 15.

“I feel pretty confident right now,” Ras-Anderica said. “I’m hitting the ball solid and the greens are playing much easier than last year for me.”

Sophomore Rika Park is also still in the hunt after her opening-round 6-over 77. Park is tied for 18th overall and only six shots off the lead.

“I was playing okay until the last four holes,” Park said. “It feels bad to finish weak, but we still have two days left [to make up for our mistakes].”

Playing in their first ACC Championship, freshmen Christina Ocampo and Laura Hendee carded rounds of 9-over 80 and 12-over 83, respectively. Ocampo is tied for 34th, while Hendee and junior Carina Cuculiza are tied for 40th overall.

The Miami Hurricanes will be paired with Maryland and Boston College for the second round, teeing off No. 1 beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET Saturday. Live scoring will be available at www.golfstatresults.com.