Graff leads Wildcats at Spartan Invitational

By Mike Jenkins
Arizona Daily Wildcat
March 12, 1998

Graff leads Wildcats at Spartan Invitational

The top-ranked Arizona women's golf team resides in first place after the second round of the Spartan Invitational held at the Fort Ord-Bayonet Golf Course in Fort Ord, Calif. All 11 teams are struggling with the long, tough course. The Wildcats are at 41-over par 633, which leaves them two strokes ahead of second place Arizona State and six strokes ahead of third place Duke.

UA, trailing Tulsa and Duke by five and six shots respectively after the first round, responded well in the second Tuesday. The Wildcats fired a 14-over par 310, two shots better than Arizona State, to take the lead. Duke dropped to third after shooting a 24-over par 320 and Tulsa dropped three spots to fourth after concluding with a 27-over par 323.

In the individual competition, Arizona's Heather Graff is tied for the lead with Duke's Jenny Chuasinporn. Both ladies reside at 2-over par 150 after the second round. Arizona State's Grace Park is in third place, three strokes behind Graff at 5-over par 153. First round leader Filippa Helmersson of Tulsa still remains in contention after the second round. Helmersson is five strokes back of leaders at 7-over par 155.

Other Arizona golfers include Jenna Daniels (tied for 10th place at 9-over par 159); Jill Gomric (tied for 15th place at 11-over par 161); Krissie Register (tied for 21st place at 13-over par 163). Rounding UA's golfers is Shannon Ingallis, who is in 34th place at 20-over par 168.

The Wildcats are playing without Marisa Baena, the NCAA's defending champion. Baena stayed in Tucson this week to participate in the LPGA's PING Standard Register Open, which is being held at Randolph. Play begins today and concludes Sunday.