NORMAN, Okla. – The top-ranked University of Arkansas women’s golf team rallied with a six-under 274 in the final round of the Schooner Fall Classic for a runner-up finish in the second event of the fall Monday.
Arkansas, who got out to a slow start in the first round, posted rounds of 272 and 274 for 836. No. 10 Mississippi State won the tournament playing to a 22-under 818 for the victory.
“I’m really proud of how we finished,” Arkansas head coach Shauna Estes-Taylor said. “The last two days of the tournament are indicative of how this team performs and what they are capable of. To see them really put their heads down and perform when they had to is really great.”
Junior Regina Plasencia paced Arkansas tying for seventh overall. Plasencia shot 71-66-70=207, a career-best for the Guadalajara, Mexico, native. Sophomore transfer Samantha Marks jumped up the leaderboard tying for ninth overall – her best finish as a Razorback. Marks shot 76-67-65=208.
Sophomore Summar Roachell was solid tying for 16th overall with three perfect rounds of 70-70-79=210 followed by junior Gabriela Lopez who tied for 21st with rounds of 73-69-69=211. Freshman Jordy LaBarbera, in her first event as a Razorbacks and shot 76-75-76=227 and tied for 81st. Freshman Alana Uriell, playing as individual, tied for 86th shooting 85-75-72=232.
“It was fun to see Samantha go low today and come back from her slow start in round one. Gaby was just really solid – she just couldn’t get any putts to fall this week. Regina and Summer – what can you say – they really grinded it out all week and worked really hard to get us back into the tournament. Alana and Jordy got some good competition experience and they continue to get better each week.”
Arkansas battled a solid field and a tough golf course at the Belmar Golf Club. The Razorbacks faced tough winds and changing conditions for each round.
“We dealt with different wind conditions all week,” said Estes-Taylor. “We had strong winds in the practice round and it was pretty calm for the final two rounds. It is a qwerky course and we had to change club selection as we went along. We had to be flexible with our game plan and the team did a nice job of adjusting with that in the last two rounds.”
Arkansas has a quick turn-around Oct. 10-12, at the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational.
INSIDE THE ROPES
The Field: No. 11 Mississippi State 818, No. 1 Arkansas 836, No. 28 Texas A&M 838, No. 60 Kent State 842, No. 20 UCF 843, No. 39 California 844, No. 53 SMU 845, No. 111 Baylor 846, No. 32 Notre Dame 846, No. 37 Texas 855, No. 8 LSU 856, No. 46 Texas Tech 859, No. 26 FSU 862, No. 76 TCU 865, Oklahoma 867, No. 88 Texas State 875, No. 87 Clemson 875.
Arkansas Results:
T7 Regina Plasencia 71-66-70=207
T9 Samantha Marks 76-67-65=208
T16 Summar Roachell 70-70-70=210
T21 Gabriela Lopez 73-69-69=211
T81 Jordy LaBarbera 76-75-76=227
T86 Alana Uriell (Ind.) 85-75-72=232
Up Next: Oct. 10-12 at Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational
For more information on Arkansas women’s golf, follow @RazorbackWGolf on Twitter.