Play suspended, NM is on the bubble

Hosts will need help to make cut

SANTA FE — It was more like it had hoped. But it might not be good enough for Team New Mexico to make the cut at the 12th USGA Women’s State Team Championship at the Club at Las Campanas.

Teeing off in the morning made a big difference for the trio from New Mexico during Wednesday’s second round of the 54-hole event — despite cold temperatures early in its round and heavy rain late. However, the team is only tied for 25th place in the 48-team field. The 36-hole cut is scheduled to be the top 21 teams and ties.

The cut was originally slated for Wednesday night. There were still, however, 12 teams on the course when darkness suspended play Wednesday. There was also a 48-minute rain delay in the cold and wet afternoon wave.

The USGA will attempt to complete the second round today, starting at 7 a.m. Once finished, the cut is scheduled and the final round is slated for 9 a.m.

The forecast today is more rain and cold.

New Mexico struggled to a 19-over-par 163 in brutal afternoon winds Tuesday and was in a tie for 32nd. But the hosts made the most of playing Wednesday morning with 3-over-par 145 for 22 over through two rounds.

New York leads at 1 under with Florida and Tennessee tied for second at even par.

There are three teams tied for 21st at 18 over, and all have finished two rounds.

There are nine teams on the course with better scores, and a number of them would have to struggle in the completion of the second round for New Mexico to work its way into the cut.

Julia Potter of Indiana (70-70) leads individually at 4 under with Arizona’s Ashley Menne at 3 under.

Cleveland High School junior Jacque Galloway led New Mexico on Wednesday with a 72 while Albuquerque’s Samantha Surette had a 75. The top two scores on each threewoman team count toward each round’s total.

Santa Fe’s Chanet FiorinaTrujillo, who had an 86 on Tuesday, shot an 83 on Wednesday, but that was the score that didn’t count for the team.

Galloway, who shot 77 on Tuesday and is 5 over, had a cold and flu bug with a fever the past few days. She said her fever broke Tuesday night.

“It was still a little rough getting up at 4:45 in the morning and driving (from Rio Rancho),” she said with a laugh. “But I just didn’t play well (on Tuesday). I was kind of nervous and had a 3-putt for a double bogey on the first hole. This sure felt better today.”

Surette made the biggest improvement on the team. She struggled to a 90 on Tuesday but was 15 shots better Wednesday, despite making bogey on the final hole.

“(Tuesday) I was nervous on the first tee,” said Surette, who made five birdies on Wednesday. “I’m not normally nervous like that. This feels great.”