Many people think golf is an individual sport, but the Arizona women’s golf team will tell you otherwise.
As the second round of the Wildcat Invitational came to a close yesterday afternoon at the Arizona National Golf Course, the No. 8 Wildcats find themselves tied for third place, ten strokes out of the lead.
With round three kicking off today, the Wildcats will rely on what they have used so heavily throughout the tournament to make a run for first: team play.
“”Nobody carries the team,”” said senior Alison Walshe, who shot a three-over-par 74 good enough for a three-way tie for third individually.
The Wildcats are the only team in the tournament without a player posting a score in double digits over par. Senior Mary Jacobs was closest, posting a nine-over-par 80 to tie for 32nd place with teammate junior Amanda Wilson. Not even No. 15 Oklahoma State, which is in first place by ten strokes – shooting a collective 18-over-par so far for the tournament – can claim such a statistic. Much of it has to do with the fact that the competing teams seem to have a star carrying the team. Meanwhile, the Wildcats rely on a strong performance from everyone to get the job done.
Top-ranked Duke is currently in second place after posting an 18-over-par yesterday, and stands at 22-over-par for the tournament, but has relied on its star Amanda Blumenherst, who shot a one-over-par 72 and leads the tournament individually.
“”It’s really important to us that we play as a team and not as individuals so that if one of us falls down, we can help pick them up,”” Walshe said.
The rest of the team didn’t play a small role in this round by any means. Freshman Alejandra Llaneza shot a seven-over-par 78 and currently shares 10th-place individually with a six-over-par for the tournament. Sophomore Emily Mason posted a career-low six-over-par and is currently tied for 24th place at nine-over-par for the tournament.
With the third and final round concluding the tournament today, the Wildcats can only hope for a strong team performance to carry them into the lead. With no standout to help launch it to victory, team play will be a necessity for Arizona in what has been a battle of individuals throughout the tournament.
