UA women's golf team ranks No. 2 in country
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Wildcat File Photo
Arizona Daily Wildcat
"It's really a confidence thing, when you win you just
don't know anything else other than winning."
Jenna Daniels
UA junior
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Last week, the No. 2-ranked UA women's golf team finished first at the Rainbow Challenge in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Wildcats shot a tournament total of 881, 17-over-par, edging out second place Pepperdine by 18 strokes. Other impressive scores were carded by third place finishers Texas Christian (36-over-par 900) and fourth place San Jose State (37-over-par 901).
Arizona had been dropped from No. 1 to No. 2 in the MasterCard Collegiate Golf Rankings just prior to the start of the tournament. UA junior Jenna Daniels dropped one spot in the individual rankings from No. 5 to No. 6, followed by freshman Cristina Baena (No. 12), junior Jill Gomric (No. 16) and senior Krissie Register (No. 29).
Register finished as the tournament's individual leader with a total of a one-under-par 215, something may improve her national ranking.
Daniels placed fifth overall with a five-over-par 221, while Baena and Gomric tied for the tourney's 10th place recording a score of 224, eight-over-par.
Daniels accounts the team's recent success to the confidence acquired after a number of strong finishes this season.
"(The team has) come off two prior wins and we've really started to click after a slow start," Daniels said. "It's really a confidence thing, when you win you just don't know anything else other than winning."
The Wildcats will attempt to keep up their winning ways this weekend at the ASU Invitational.
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The Arizona men's golf team placed 11th at the Golf Digest Collegiate Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada over spring break. The Wildcats were able to jump four spots on the final day of play and card a score of 893, while host squad UNLV finished in first place with a tourney total of 855.
UA junior Derek Gillespie placed individually in the tournament's top 20, tied for 18th place with a total of 218, two-over-par. Also, senior Andy Barnes finished tied for 21st place with a three-over-par 219.
Barnes attributes the team's average play to a slow first day and horrible playing conditions.
"What killed us was our poor start," he said. "When you're in last place after the first day of play, you have to play catch-up for the rest of the tournament. The conditions were tough with winds up to 20 miles per hour and really cold, but our last two rounds were something to be proud of. We just have to get off to a better start (in the future)."
Other notable UA scores came from freshman Damian Hale, who carded a three day total of 227, 11-over-par, and freshman Cody Beyer, who shot a 15-over-par, 231.
Texas' David Gosset took home the individual trophy with a score of 208, an outstanding eight-under-par.
Arizona will resume play this weekend at the U.S. Intercollegiate Tournament in St. Augustine, Fla.
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