March 5, 2007
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Sophomore Amanda Blumenherst fired a seven-under 65 in her second round to help No. 3 Duke build a commanding 21-shot advantage on the 13-team field at the UCF Challenge on Monday. Blumenherst's 65 followed up her first-round 70 (-2) to give her a nine-under total of 135 through two rounds at the Par 72, 6,214-yard layout at the Villas of Grand Cypress.
No. 4 Pepperdine and No. 2 Georgia are in a tight battle for second place as the Waves (594, +18) hold a one-shot lead on the Bulldogs (595, +19). Southeastern Conference foes Vanderbilt (600, +24) and LSU (612, +36), respectively, round out the top five.
Blumenherst, the No. 1 ranked player in women's golf according to Golfweek.com, holds a 10-stroke lead on five fellow competitors, including teammates Jennie Lee and Alison Whitaker. Those two along with Georgia's Alina Lee and the Pepperdine duo of Misun Cho and Nicole Montgomery are all tied at 145 (+1).
"(Amanda) is a great example of somebody who got their putter going," Duke head coach Dan Brooks said. "She was striping it too, but she just really got her putter going. She had 13 birdies and you don't do that without your putter."
The individual medalist from the inaugural UCF Challenge will be offered a sponsor's exemption to the LPGA's Sybase Classic to be played in Clifton, N.J., May 17-20 of this year.
Sophomore Sara Hurwich (Potomac Falls, Va./Dominion) was the top UCF golfer as the tournament hosts are currently in 12th (324-308 = 632, + 56). Hurwitch posted rounds of 77 (+5) and 76 (+4) and is tied for 24th in the individual standings.
Leigh Crosby (Athens, Ga./Oconee) and Victoria Tomko (Lontzen, Belgium/Bradenton Academy) each posted a 73 (+1) in the second round, which was the low round turned in by a Golden Knight on the day. Crosby is in a tie for 32nd (155, +11), while Tomko, who is playing as an individual, is tied for 40th (157, +13).
Team Leaderboard - Rounds One and TwoRank Team Totals1 Duke 289-284 = 573 (-3)2 Pepperdine 296-298 = 594 (+18)3 Georgia 305-290 = 595 (+19)4 Vanderbilt 302-298 = 600 (+24)5 LSU 312-300 = 612 (+36)6 Florida 313-301 = 614 (+38)7 New Mexico 307-310 = 617 (+41) Purdue 313-304 = 617 (+41)9 Alabama 321-301 = 622 (+46)10 Arkansas 312-312 = 624 (+48)11 Ohio State 322-304 = 626 (+50)12 UCF 324-308 = 632 (+56)13 SMU 323-322 = 645 (+69)
Individual LeaderboardRank Player (School) Total1 Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) 70-65 = 135 (-9)2 Alina Lee (Georgia) 73-72 = 145 (+1) Jennie Lee (Duke) 73-72 = 145 (+1) Alison Whitaker (Duke) 71-74 = 145 (+1) Misun Cho (Pepperdine) 72-73 = 145 (+1) *Nicole Montgomery (Pepperdine) 74-71 = 145 (+1) * playing as an individual
UCF Golfers (place)Sara Hurtwich (T24) 77-76 = 153 (+9)Leigh Crosby (T32) 82-73 = 155 (+11)*Victoria Tomko (T40) 84-73 = 157 (+13)*Holly Boot (T44) 82-76 = 158 (+14)Mayule Tomimbang (T55) 81-79 = 160 (+16)*Lauren Motyl (T57) 78-83 = 161 (+17)Stephanie Connelly (T63) 84-80 = 164 (+20)Kristy McLaughlin (66) 85-81 = 166 (+22)*Annabel Silk (72) 88-85 = 173 (+29)* playing as individuals="https://ucfknights.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://ucfknights.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>
Notes
? This is the inaugural UCF Challenge with the individual medalist earning a sponsor's exemption to the LPGA's Sybase Classic.
? Duke freshman Rebecca Kim recorded the day's only eagle in her first round on the Par 5, 2nd hole, which was playing at 491 yards.
? Duke sophomore Amanda Blumenherst fired a 31 (-5) on the front nine of her second round and finished with a 65 (-7), both tallies were the best nine and 18-hole scores of the day.
? Blumenherst led all golfers with a four-under total on Par 3's, a one-under total on Par 4's and a four-under total on Par 5's. She also led the field with 13 birdies.
? Duke's Jennie Lee led the field with 27 pars through rounds one and two.
? Ten of the 13 teams in the field improved their scores from round one to round two. Arkansas shot a pair of 312's, while Pepperdine (296-298) dropped two strokes in the afternoon round and New Mexico (307-310) dropped three.
? Alabama had the largest improvement of any team from round one to round two, gaining 20 strokes (321-301). Ohio State was second with an 18-shot improvement, while the Golden Knights were third bettering their first round by 16 strokes.