By
Kyle Faraday
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Defending champs playing without top returner
The UA women's golf team isn't taking long to defend its national title. Last year's NCAA champions lead No . 1 ranked Duke by one stroke after the first round of the Wildcat Invitational, which is being held at The Raven at Sabino Springs golf course.
"We did pretty good for the first day," freshman Lorena Ochoa said. "The course is very good for us. We have better chances than (the other teams). Everybody is very excited to be here and to be winning so far."
The Invitational - the second-ranked Wildcats' lone home tournament of the year - is being played at the par-72 Raven through tomorrow afternoon.
The last 14 NCAA champions are competing alongside Arizona for the Invitational title.
Arizona set the pace for the field by shooting an opening round of 293 (+5). Rounding out the top five were: Duke (294, +6), Southern California (295, +7), Stanford (298, +10), and New Mexico State (302, +14).
Individually, two standout freshmen - Ochoa and Natalie Gulbis - are tied for third place after shooting an opening round 72. Duke freshman Virada Nirapathpongporn leads the field with a first round score of 70.
Ochoa said that the rivalry between herself and Nirapathpongporn goes back five or six years to when the two were playing in junior events together.
"I know her very well - she's a very good friend of mine," Ochoa said. 'But I have more chances because I know her game. I know how she reacts. I know how she plays on the last day. I know I can beat her."
Ochoa is presently ranked the No. 1 player in the nation, with Gulbis ranked 3rd.
Conspicuously absent from the Wildcats' starting lineup was Julia Kraschinski. The sophomore is suffering from severe disc problems in her back and was forced to withdraw from the final round of last week's Southern California Regional Challenge.
Kraschinski was the runner-up for individual honors at the NCAA tournament last spring, losing to teammate and former UA senior Jenna Daniels.
"The cold weather at last week's Regional Challenge was the reason (UA head) coach (Greg Allen) left me out of the final round," she said. "We've got a month before the Rainbow Invitational, though, so I'm just going to rest up and get ready for that."
In Kraschinski's absence, the Wildcats have been supported by the outstanding play from Ochoa and Gulbis, who have both integrated themselves seamlessly into an already intimidating Arizona squad.
"It's hard because Julia's a very good player - she's very important for our team," Ochoa said. "But last semester, we played without her. We have confidence in our team."
Also scoring yesterday for the Wildcats were sophomore Ann Lee (73, +1), junior Cristina Baena (76, +4), and sophomore Laura Myerscough (79, +7).
"Two of our best players (Baena and Myersough) didn't play very good," Ochoa said.
The three-day tournament continues today at 8 a.m.
