After a calm and sunny first round in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Tuesday, the UCLA women’s golf team remained a contender in the NCAA Championship, and trailed first-placed USC by five strokes. Coach Carrie Forsyth said that the team’s play would depend on the weather for the following rounds.
“If it gets pretty windy, it’s going to add another challenge to everything, trying to characterize the wind ““ (we’ll need to) play smart when the conditions get tougher,” Forsyth said after round one.
Tougher was an understatement.
It got so windy in round two that play had to be suspended twice during the second day, and several teams didn’t finish their rounds.
“Right when we were finishing, flags were bending 90 degrees, perpendicular to the ground. They had to take down a couple of the tents because everything was flying all over the place, like cardboard boxes were flying all over the place. Balls weren’t staying on the green, they were just rolling off,” junior Tiffany Joh said.
Despite those winds, the Bruins are in a great position entering round three today, tied with rival USC for first place at 8-over par. Alabama, Denver and Texas A&M are all within three shots of the lead.
“I felt really good. The girls hung in there because it was a pretty tough day. I was pretty pleased with the way we handled it today, because it wasn’t easy,” Forsyth said. “I know with the amount of focus that they have going into the last couple rounds here, I think they’re going to do well.”
Two Bruins are within striking distance of the individual lead as well. Joh and sophomore Sydnee Michaels sit at 1-under par just three shots behind the leader, USC’s Belen Mozo.
Joh used a brilliant, 3-under par round of 69 Wednesday to move towards the top of the leaderboard. She had struggled earlier in the tournament, shooting 74 in round one.
Joh’s phenomenal back nine in round two moved her back into contention ““ she had six birdies in nine holes. That rocketed her to fourth place overall, having started the day in 44th.
But the other Bruins struggled Wednesday.
Freshman Maria Jose Uribe fired a 77 after scoring 73 in round one. Junior Maiya Tanaka fared even worse, finishing with 79 in a round that included seven bogies and no birdies.
Still, the play of Michaels and Joh has put the Bruins in excellent position.
“I think we can take comfort in the fact that everyone else is dealing with it too,” Joh said. “The wind (is battering) you out there for five-plus hours, so I think what you really have to do is think of each shot as itself, not the fact that it’s the national championship and that it’s the last tournament of the year.”
Because play was suspended late Wednesday, the Bruins and Trojans have just 36 holes remaining, while other teams will have to make up holes today and Friday. Still, it’s going to be a daunting challenge for everyone if the conditions stay the same.
“Obviously ‘SC is a talented team,” Joh said. “But at the same time, we have a couple of good talents on our team as well. I think whoever wins at the end will truly deserve it, just because it’s such a long grueling tournament under tough conditions.”