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Comeback win doesn't surprise Wildcats

Shorthanded No. 1 women's golf wins 4th straight tournament; Baena takes top honors in playoff with Daniels

To say the Arizona Women's golf team is the best team in the nation might be the understatement of the year.

The top-ranked Wildcats came from behind to win their fourth consecutive tournament last week at the Dr. Thompson Rainbow Wahine Invitational, held at the Olomana Golf Course in Oahu, Hawaii.

Arizona went into the final day of play in third place, 9 strokes behind frontrunning Pepperdine.

"We feel this sense of urgency on the final round and we all step it up a notch to play better," All-American senior Jenna Daniels said.

Arizona shot a final round 1-over-par 289, which was 11 strokes better than the second place team. The Wildcats finished two strokes ahead of second place Pepperdine, shooting a three-day score of 883, which was 19 over par.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Wildcat's come-from-behind victory was the fact that they were short-handed. All-American senior Jill Gomric strained some tendons in her wrist on the second day of play during a backswing and decided to sit out the final day.

"I couldn't play that well and we thought it would be best to not play so I don't get injured permanently," Gomric said.

With Gomric out, head coach Todd McCorkle felt the Wildcats were at a disadvantage without their All-American senior.

"With Jill Gomric being hurt and us playing with four players, our backs were against the wall," McCorkle said.

Daniels welcomes the pressure and said it makes her as well as her teammates perform better.

"We like the pressure and spotlight and most of the time we can pull from behind," Daniels said. "We like coming from behind."

McCorkle wasn't worried that his team was nine strokes behind going into the final round even though he was short-handed.

"Our team has come back so many times and they have me sold on that they are never out of a tournament anymore," McCorkle said.

Individually, All-American Wildcat sophomore Cristina Baena and Daniels both finished tied for first at 3-under. Both Baena and Daniels wanted to be co-champions but they knew that wouldn't be the case.

The two All-Americans went into a sudden death playoff, where Baena took first place honors after the second hole of the sudden death playoff.

"It was really weird because I have never played in a playoff against my own teammate," Daniels said. "If I had to lose, there isn't a better player I would like to lose to."

McCorkle was excited to see two of his Wildcats in the sudden death playoff round.

"I just watched them play and enjoyed the fact that I had two players in the playoffs," McCorkle said.

Freshmen Julia Kraschinski finished tied for 10th, while junior Cristina Baena tied for 17th.

McCorkle couldn't be more happy with his team after the tournament.

"I was really proud about the way they played," McCorkle said. " That's all I could ever ask for as a coach."