Women's Golf Holds Slim Lead At Golfweek Program Challenge
September 12, 2011 | Women's Golf
Sept. 12, 2011
Team and Individual Leaderboard l Golfweek Feature on Strandberg
LITCHFIELD, S.C. - After holding an eight-shot lead after the first day, East Carolina now holds a one-shot lead over James Madison in the women's division of the Golfweek Program Challenge.
The Monarchs (581) posted the best round of the day, a six-over 290, to close the gap on the Pirates (580), who posted a 13-over 297. On Sunday, the Pirates fired a tournament-low round of 283 (one-under par), which tied the second-lowest 18-hole team score in school history.
Individually, the demanding Caledonia Golf & Fish Club layout is providing a great test. James Madison's Nicole Sakamoto recorded an even-par 71 to go along with an opening-round 69 to lead individually at two-under 140 on the 6,003-yard, par-71 layout. Sakamoto, a senior, has a two-shot cushion over Valdis Jonsdottir of Texas State and Christina Miller of South Florida.
ECU senior Julia Strandberg (two-over), who was tied for the lead after 18-holes with a three-under personal-best 68, is now in a three-way tie for fourth (144) sitting four shots out off the lead. Strandberg was one-under through six holes before bogeying the par-4 seventh and double-bogeying the par-5 eighth finishing the front nine with a two-over 35. After five-straight pars, she recorded another double-bogey at the 15th, a birdie at the 16th followed by consecutive bogies for a five-over par 76.
Playing only her second collegiate round, Campbell freshman Lisbeth Brooks shot a tournament-low 4-under 67. Brooks, a freshman from Waunakee, Wisc., was bogey-free through 17 holes and had a look at 65. However, her 15-foot birdie attempt slid past the hole, resulting in a three-putt and her only blemish on the scorecard. Brooks vaulted up the leaderboard, from a tie for 41st place to a tie for seventh, and is just five shots off the lead.
Pirate freshman Katie Kirk is one stroke behind Strandberg with a two-day score of 145 (71-74) and is tied for seventh place in her first collegiate tournament. Senior Amy Otteson is tied for 14th at 147 (73-74), while sophomore's Fanny Wolte (71-79=150) and Faith Hardison (83-73=156) are tied for 21st and 39th.
ECU will begin third round play Tuesday morning at 8:15 paired with James Madison and Texas State.
In the race for the Golfweek Program Challenge trophy, East Carolina holds a one-shot lead over Campbell. The Pirates are at three-under, while the Camels check in a two-under.
School - Men - Women - Total
East Carolina: -15, +12, -3
Campbell: -21, +19, -2
Texas State: -4, +15. +11
South Florida: -19, +31, +12
Jacksonville State: -21, +34, +13
UNCW: -9, +27, +18
James Madison: +7, +13, +20
Troy: E, +45, +45
Central Arkansas: -6, +54, +48
UMKC: E, +52, +52
Boston College: E, +52, +52
Northern Iowa: +12, +41, +53
