CHARLESTON, S.C. – Neither rain nor lightening could keep the No. 7/9 University of Arkansas women’s golf team from winning the opening tournament of the 2014-15 season at the Powerade Cougar Classic in Charleston, S.C., Tuesday.
Weather was an issue in all three rounds delaying play on Monday, and forcing Tuesday’s start to a shotgun. Teams were cleared from the course for a lighting delay near the middle of the round and rain suspended play with teams in the final four holes of the event.
The @RazorbackWGolf team posted the lowest score of the day with a final round 282, finishing nine-under on the day. Arkansas was 15-under for the tournament at the par 72, 6,204 yard Yeamans Hill course in Charleston, S.C.
The back-and-forth battle with No. 3 UCLA came down to the wire but the Razorbacks stayed true to the game plan and finished strong playing the final four holes seven-under as a group to get the seven-shot win.
Junior Regina Plasencia tied her second-best collegiate finish with a tie for fifth place overall. The Guadalajara, Mexico, native shot 69-70-69 for a 208, tying her career-best three round score.
Plasencia turned even with a birdie and bogey on the front nine. She played the last five holes three under with birdies on the 14th, 15th and 18th holes.
Sophomore Summar Roachell posted career numbers as well. The Conway, Ark., native shot a career-best 211 and finished ninth, also a career mark. Roachell shot 72-70-69 for the tournament. Roachell had a colorful scorecard with seven birdies, two bogeys and a double. She played the final four holes three-under for the Razorbacks.
Junior Gabriela Lopez finished tied for 13th. The Razorback All-American is fresh off a trip to Japan where she helped Team Mexico in the World Team Amateur Championship. Lopez shot 213 with rounds of 70-73-70. Lopez birdied two of her last four holes.
Transfer Samantha Marks tied for 15th overall shooting 214 with rounds of 72-71-71, and freshman Alana Uriell tied for 48th overall shooting 72-75-76=223. Marks birdied two of her last five holes while Uriell birdied 18 making sure every player birdied the final hole.
The rest of the field included No. 3 UCLA with 853, No. 2 Duke with 856, No. 20 Virginia with 861, No. 19 Mississippi State with 861, No. 22 Wake Forest with 862, No. 59 Tennessee with 868, No. 23 UCF with 871, No. 17 North Carolina state with 873, No. 48 Georgia with 885, No. 42 Wisconsin with 888, No. 21 Florida with 889, No. 69 College of Charleston with 893, No. 31 North Carolina with 895, No. 169 Charleston Southern with 901, No. 14 Clemson with 904, No. 72 Ole Miss with 905, No. 117 Indiana with 909, No. 61 Penn State with 910, No. 85 Maryland with 911, No. 40 Baylor with 912, No. 75 Missouri with 917 and No. 195 UNCG at 933.
Up next, the Razorback women’s golf team travels to Norman, Okla., for the Schooner Fall Classic Oct. 4-6.
INSIDE THE ROPES
* There were two teams in the top-5, two more teams ranked in the top-10 and three more in the top 20 (not counting Arkansas) in this tournament.
* Teams waited through two rain delays and one lightening delay to finish the final round.
* Arkansas faced six SEC teams this week (Mississippi State, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Ole Miss and Missouri).
* Arkansas won three team titles last year.
* This is the third career top-5 finish for Regina Plasencia. Her best finish is a tie for second at the rain-shortened Mercedes Benz Collegiate last year.
* Arkansas led the field playing the par three holes at 3.05 and the par four holes at 4.03. They were second in the field on the par five holes playing those holes 4.68.
* Arkansas led the field with 57 birdies and was tied for second with one eagle.
RESULTS
Top Five Teams
1. No. 7/9 ARKANSAS 283-284-279=845
2. No. 3 UCLA 290-279-284=853
3. No. 2 Duke 294-280-282=856
T4. No. 20 Virginia 288-289-284=861
T4. No. 19 Mississippi State 289-292-280=861
Arkansas Players
T5 Regina Plasencia 69-70-69=208
T9 Summar Roachell 72-70-69=211
T13 Gabriela Lopez 70-73-70=213
T15 Samantha Marks 72-71-71=214
T48 Alana Uriell 72-75-76=223
For more information on Arkansas women’s golf, follow @RazorbackWGolf on Twitter.