Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational
Hoosiers Sit In 10th at Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational
9/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Sept. 19, 2008
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Junior Laura Nochta shot an even-par 73 and is currently tied for sixth after two rounds of the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational being held at the University of New Mexico Championship Golf Course in Albuquerque, N.M.
Indiana entered the day in ninth place with a first round score of 303 and shot a 308 on day two, dropping one spot to 10th with a cumulative score of 611 (+27). Pepperdine and host New Mexico are tied for the lead at +1 (585). Rounding out the top five are UC Davis (594), Colorado State (597) and Texas (597). Tournament play concludes tomorrow with a single round.
"I saw some good things out there today, but we struggled on the greens and did not convert some of the opportunities we had," said head coach Clint Wallman. " But even when things were not going our way we didn't let the round get away from us. I think that is a big factor heading into tomorrow."
Nochta got off to a quick start in round two and is at even par for the tournament with a two-round score of 146 (74-72), good for sixth place. Nochta was -1 after seven holes thanks to a birdie on the par-3 seventh hole, and added another birdie on 10 to go to two under. A bogey on 14 put her back at one under-par and another bogey on 16 had her at even for the day. She responded with a birdie on the par-3 17 and pared the 18th hole for a second-round score of 72 (-1).
"Laura has been playing well ever since she returned to campus," Wallman said. "She is hitting the ball well and making the putts she needs to. She can make some noise in this tournament."
Kellye Belcher, who was 1-under after the first round, got tripped up on the front nine in round two and shot a 3-over 76, putting her at + 3 (72-76=148) for the tournament and in a tie for 16th place. She was even par through the first five holes before a double bogey on six put her two over. Another bogey on eight gave her a 40 (+3) for the first nine holes. The back nine began with a bogey on 10, and another on the par-4 14th hole. Belcher would breeze home with pars on 15, 16 and 17, and topped things off with a birdie on the par-5 18th hole.
Anita Gahir matched yesterday's round with a 5-over 78 and is currently tied for 49th at +10 (78-78=156) after two rounds. Gahir shot a 40 on the front nine to put her at +3, and back-to-back bogeys on 14 and 15 increased her deficit to five over. She added a birdie on 16 but followed with a bogey on 17 and a par on 18.
Amber Lindgren shot an 8-over 81 in the second round and is currently tied for 73rd at +15 for the tournament (80-81=161). Bogeys on three of the first five holes set her back and she came around the bend at +4 heading into the back nine. Lindgren held steady with pars on 10, 12, and 13, but a stretch of bogeys on 14, 15 and 16 brought her to +8. The senior rallied for pars on the final two holes of the day.
Cecilia Orevik is tied with Lindgren in 73rd after shooting an 9-over 82, putting her at +15 (79-82=161). Orevik was left without a birdie on the afternoon, opening with bogeys on three of the first four holes. She came back with four-straight pars, but again fell back into a slump with bogeys on five of the next seven holes. Back-to-back pars on 16 and 17 were followed by a bogey on 18 to end the day.
Freshman Sara Poppas continues to work her way through the course, posting a 9-over 82. Poppas is tied for 85th with a two-round total of 165 (85-82; +21). She started off well with a five on the par-5 10th hole but quickly dropped to 6-over with double bogeys on 11 and 13, and an extra shot each on 12 and 14. That rough patch was followed by a steady effort as she went -1 over the next eight holes, including a birdie on the par-3 second hole. That run was interrupted by bogeys on five, six and seven, with another on nine to end the round.
Players Mentioned
