Alabama
Mason Rudolph Women's Championship
Women's Golf off to Hot Start at Mason Rudolph
9/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Sept. 25, 2009
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The seventh-ranked University of Alabama women's golf team scorched the par-72, 6,217-yard Vanderbilt Legends Club on Friday in the opening round of the Mason Rudolph Women's Championship with an 8-under-par 280 to finish the round tied for third.
The 8-under-par total of 280 is the second-lowest round in the history of the Crimson Tide women's golf team. The lowest round was a 279 (-9) in the 2008 Crimson Tide Classic at the Ol'Colony Golf Course in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama enters the second round tied at 8-under with No. 1 Arizona State while trailing second-ranked Southern California and Auburn by two strokes (278). Duke is in fifth place at 5-under 283 and UCLA in sixth at 4-under 284.
"We didn't play much different that we usually do, but we made some putts today," Alabama head coach Mic Potter said following Friday's round. "Our girls hit it in the fairway and on the green pretty consistently and today we were able to get it in the hole. Today was a great start for this team against a very challenging field, now we just have to be consistent in our performances."
Junior Camilla Lennarth paced the Crimson Tide by equaling her career-low with a round of 4-under-par 68. It is her second sub-70 round in three stroke-play rounds this fall. She also fired a 69 in the final round of stroke qualifying at the NGCA Match Play Championships.
"Camilla had the best putting day I have ever seen her have," Potter said. "She made a couple of critical par saves and some really long putts. She always hits it close, and today she made those putts and that is something that she has struggled with. She is starting to get some confidence in her putting, and if she is confident in her putting she is one of the best."
Lennarth is tied for fourth place after 18 holes play. She opened the round on the back side shot an even-par 36 going out with birdies on No. 11 and No. 17 to go along with bogeys on No. 12 and No. 16. But the Stockholm, Sweden, native got hot over her final nine holes with back-to-back birdies on holes No. 1 and 2 and then again on holes seven and eight to fire a 4-under 32 over her last nine.
True freshman Jennifer Kirby was also impressive with a 2-under-par 70 that included an eagle on the par-5 seventh hole. She also recorded four birdies and four bogeys in her opening 18 holes. Kirby is tied for 15th place after one round of play.
Sophomore Brooke Pancake and Helena Blomberg also recorded strong rounds on Friday with matching 1-under-par 71s. Pancake turned in a consistent and solid 18 holes on Friday, recording two birdies and just one birdie while making 15 par. Blomberg opened with three birdies and six pars on her first nine holes but shot a 2-over 38 on her second nine to finish tied for 27th.
Rhea Nair produced a 1-over-par 73 in the fifth spot for the Tide and is tied for 45th heading into the second round. Courtney Harter, playing as an individual, shot a 5-over-par 77 and is tied for 79th.
The Crimson Tide will tee off its second round in the Mason Rudolph Women's Championships on Saturday morning from the Vanderbilt Legends Club.
Players Mentioned
