Women's Golf, Santos In Hunt Heading Into Final Round
9/10/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
SPRINGVILLE, Utah - Gonzaga University's women's golf team teed off the 2014 season Monday at the Hobble Creek Invitational and the Bulldogs find themselves in second 10 strokes behind West Coast Conference for University of San Francisco heading into Tuesday's final round.
The Bulldogs stand at an even 600 after rounds of 304-296. USF is at 590 with rounds of 299 and 291. Gonzaga has a 7-stroke lead over third place Grand Canyon University.
A pair of 75s by sophomore Raychelle Santos and senior Tai Jade 'TJ' Kliebphipat was the best Gonzaga could muster individually in the first round over the 6,032-yard, par 71 Hobble Creek Golf Club. But the squad rebounded in the second round as Santos shot a 1-under 70 and junior Han Wu a 1-over 72 to get the Bulldogs back into the team chase.
Santos is third at 145 after rounds of 75-70 and freshman newcomer Ciera Min is in the top 20 in a tie for 19th at 153 with rounds of 78-75.lack of
"The course played tough with a swirling wind all day," Gonzaga head coach Brad Rickel said.
But of more concern to Rickel in the morning round with his team's lack of competitive spirit.
"We had a total lack of competitive spirit in the morning round. I'm not sure if it was the first round of the year jitters or if we just had a hard time getting anything going," Rickel said. "We played better in the afternoon round and out team competitiveness was way better."
Rickel said Santos and Wu came back strong in the afternoon.
"Raychelle and Han had great afternoon rounds," Rickel said.
But it will be an uphill climb to overtake USF, although the Bulldogs need to go back no further than last October when they came from 11 strokes back heading into the final round to win the Lamkin Grip Cal Poly Invitational.
"We need to put it all together tomorrow if we are going to have a chance to win," Rickel said.
Two other WCC teams are in the 13-team field. Host BYU is fifth at 611 and Santa Clara University is sixth at 618. BYU's Lea Garner is the first-day leader at 143 (70-73) for a 1-shot lead over Charlotte Jaengkit of Grand Canyon and a 2-shot lead over Santos.
Tuesday's final round begins at 7 a.m. Pacific Time.
