UA women golfers 8th, qualify for championship

Arkansas’ women’s golf team posted a finalround 295 Saturday at the NCAA Central Regional in Columbus, Ohio, and that was enough to move the Razorbacks into eighth place and earn them a berth in the NCAA Championship.

Arkansas finished the three-day tournament at 49-over 913, which left the Razorbacks one stroke ahead of Oregon for the final spot in the NCAA Championship, which will be played May 22-25 in Nashville, Tenn.

“What a day,” said Arkansas Coach Shauna Estes-taylor, whose team went into Saturday in 12th place but posted the day’s fourth-best score on Ohio State’s par-72, 6,264-yard Scarlet Course. “It feels so good to be on the right side of one shot today. I can’t say enough about this team’s fortitude. They just hung it all on the line today, and on a day when we needed it most, they really rallied hard.”

Oregon missed a birdie opportunity on the final hole that would have forced a playoff.

Southern California won the regional at 10-over 874, and Vanderbilt finished runner-up at 899. Purdue was third at 902, followed by Tennessee (904), Virginia (905), Ohio State (908) and North Carolina State (911).

Arkansas was led by sophomore Emily Tubert, who was 5 under through the first nine holes with two eagles and a birdie and tied the low tournament round with a 4-under 68. She finished tied for fourth at 2-over 218 (75-75-68).

“I don’t think I have had an eagle all year, and to have two in three holes was really great,” Tubert said.

Sophomore Emma Lavy was steady all weekend and finished tied for 23rd at 11-over 227 (77-7575). Junior Victoria Vela tied for 65th at 20-over 236 (79-81-76), and sophomore Emily Podzielinski finished tied for 68th at 21-over 237 (79-82-76). Freshman Hally Leadbetter finished tied for 96th at 26-over 242 (89-77-76).