May 21, 2009
It is a game of ups and downs.
UCF senior Stephanie Connelly knows that she'll have these days on the golf course.
What was more disappointing for Connelly was that she had one of those days during the second round of the NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championships, being held at the par-72, 6,443-yard Caves Valley Golf Course in Owings Mills, Md.
After firing an even-par 72 in the first round and tying for third place, Connelly shot a 2-over par 74 on Wednesday and enters the third round in a tie for sixth place in the field of 126 golfers at 2-over par 146.
"I'm a little disappointed," Connelly said after recording a par on her final hole, the ninth, on Wednesday afternoon. "I hit the ball better today. I had a lot of birdies, but I went up and down at the beginning."
After saving par on the 10th hole, her first of the day, Connelly went bogey, birdie bogey, birdie, bogey on the next five holes and was at plus-1 for the day. She again saved par on two-straight holes - the 16th and 17th - but after a bogey on par-4, 387-yard 18th hole, Connelly made the turn in 2-over par.
"It was some stupid shots, I think I got a little aggressive on a few shots and that cost me a little bit," she explained. "And then I just wasn't making the putts today that I was making yesterday."
Connelly, who played in the morning round on Tuesday, was among the last three golfers on the entire golf course on Wednesday. She made a birdie on the par-5, 492-yard third hole and, combined with seven pars, was able to finish the front with an even-par 36.
"The speed (of the greens) was fine," Connelly said. "They were a little slower and a little bumpier. I was in the last group, so the whole field had been out on them all day. They got a little bumpy but I think there a few I didn't hit quite as solid as I would have liked."
Still, she enters the last two rounds of her collegiate career standing among the top-10 individuals in a field featuring the best teams and players in college golf.
"I still feel good about my game," she said. "I just feel disappointed because I feel like I had a little bit of a better game going today, but I didn't have my putter going. I feel good. I think I'm playing better than that right now, just to be top-10. I think if I focus a little better in the next two days, I can move up."
Connelly, who qualified as an individual after finishing in second place at the NCAA East Regional, continues play on Thursday, May 21, teeing off on the first hole at 8:20 a.m.
- Mike "Mex" Carey
Georgetown Sports Information Director