Hoosiers Complete Day One of Lady Puerto Rico Classic

Sunday, February 8

Rio Grande, Puerto Rico

All Day

Indiana University

Lady Puerto Rico Classic

Hoosiers Complete Day One of Lady Puerto Rico Classic

2/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf

Feb. 8, 2009

Lady Puerto Rico Classic-Round 1 Results

RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico - Junior Laura Nochta's even-par 72 currently puts her in a tie for first place, highlighting the Hoosier women's golf team's first day of the Lady Puerto Rico Classic at the Coco Beach Golf Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.

Indiana shot a 30-over 318 on day one, placing it 15th out of 16 teams. Georgia and TCU are tied for first at +14 (302), followed by host Purdue (304), Florida State (305) and Kent State (308).

"Everyone is battling a very breezy and challenging course," said head coach Clint Wallman. "Plus it is early in the (spring) season and that is going to factor in to some of the slip ups on the course. But Laura (Nochta) kept her mistakes to a bare minimum and that is why she finished so well."

Nochta shot a 38 over the first nine and came home with a 34, making her just one of three players to hit par on the day. She is currently tied with TCU's Valentine Derrey and Oklahoma State's Kendall Dye for first place.

"That was a great round for Laura," Wallman said. "The conditions were hard but she took a lot of good shots and was solid throughout the day."

Senior Amber Lindgren is tied for 47th with an 8-over 80 on the day. Juniors Kellye Belcher and Anita Gahir are both three strokes back and tied for 67th with an 83. Sophomore Cecilia Orevik rounds out the IU contingent in a tie for 74th with an 84.

"I don't think their scores were really indicative of their play," Wallman said. "Amber had a solid round, and Cecilia was playing well but had one really bad hole that cost her. We played a lot of good holes, but when we made mistakes they were costly mistakes."

Play continues Monday with another 18-hole round, followed by the final 18 holes on Tuesday. Each day will follow a shotgun start.

"We just need to minimize our mistakes," Wallman said. "And when we do make mistakes, we need to limit the damage. We are seeing a lot of big numbers from everyone in the field, so if we can limit our mistakes we can pick up ground quickly."