Alabama, UCLA now share Northrop Grumman Lead
2/12/2018 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff
see also: View results for Northrop Grumman Challenge, Palos Verdes Golf Club
Olivia Mehaffey played steady golf in the second round to remain atop the medalist leaderboard
PALOS VERDES ESTATES, CA (February 12, 2018) - The lead of the Northrop Grumman Challenge is still being shared by two teams but now after two rounds it is Alabama and UCLA atop the leaderboard. With low scores proving difficult to come by the Crimson Tide and Bruins sit at 8-over, one shot clear of first round co-leader Arizona at 9-over with one remaining at Palos Verdes Golf Club.
In fourth place it is defending NCAA champion and opening round co-leader Arizona State at 15-over and 19-over Stanford is fifth.
Alabama was led to the lead by junior Lauren Stephenson (T4; E). Three shots off the individual lead, Stephenson has tallied rounds of 74-68 and on Monday her 3-under score was comprised of six birdies and four bogeys. Stephenson began her round with four birdies in her first seven holes.
Two other members of the Alabama lineup are in the top-10; Kristen Gillman (T7; +1) and Lakareber Abe (T9; +2).
On Tuesday Alabama will be in search of their second win of the season in five events. In the fall they won one-time and finished second three-times.
Leading UCLA into a tie for the lead in second were Patty Tavatanakit (T2; -2) and Lilia Vu (T9; +4), both of whom carded 3-under 69's. Also playing well for the Bruins is Bethany Wu (T4; E).
On Tuesday UCLA will be in search of win No. 4 on the season and their fourth straight after taking second in their opening event of the fal season.
Still leading the way in the medalist race is Arizona State sophomore Olivia Mehaffey. On day two Mehaffey wasn't quite as sharp carding an even-par 71 to remain at 3-under. Mehaffey was 2-over after six holes but she rebounded to play the final 11 holes in 2-under. From holes 9-16 Mehaffey birdied three-times as she played the stretch in 3-under.
Kaitlyn Papp (Texas) and Tavatanakit are second at 2-under while Stephenson, Wu and YuSang Hou (Arizona) are tied fourth at even-par.
ROUND ONE RECAP
The state or Arizona rose to the top on day one leaderboard at the Northrop Grumman Challenge hosted by Palos Verdes Golf Club.
With many of the top teams in the country in the field Arizona and Arizona State rose to the top of the leaderboard with 1-over opening day tallies.
The Wildcats were led on Sunday by junior Haley Moore who is tied for fifth following a 1-under 70. 2-over after eight holes, Moore settled down on the back nine playing the homeward stretch in a bogey-free 3-under 33. The second nine surge was keyed by 10th and 11th hole birdies.
Along with Moore three other members of the Arizona lineup are in the top-15; Gigi Stoll (T8; E), Bianca Pagdanganan (T14; +1) and YuSang Hou (T14; +1).
Pacing the defending national champion Arizona State Sun Devils is medalist leader Olivia Mehaffey. The Sun Devil sophomore kick started her round with a hole-in-one on the par-3 2nd hole and the momentum carried over on each of the next two holes in the forms of birdies that moved Mehaffey to 4-under through four holes.
Mehaffey did struggle at times throughout the rest of the round playing the remaining 14 holes in 1-over but she was still able to sign for a 3-under 68 and a one-stroke lead over three others at 2-under.
Also helping Arizona State to the lead were Madison Kerley (T8; E), Sophia Zeeb (T19; +2) and Roberta Liti (T19; +2).
Behind the two schools from the Grand Canyon State are Alabama (+8) and UCLA (+8) in a tie for third while in fifth it is Northwestern (+9).
The top-five of the medalist race is rounded out by Kaitlyn Papp (Texas), Kristen Gillman (Alabama) and Gurleen Kaur (Baylor) in second at 2-under while Bethany Wu (UCLA), Chih-Min Chen (Oklahoma State) and Moore are sharing fifth at 1-under.
Results: Northrop Grumman Challenge
| Place | Player | Location | Pts | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | , Ireland | 800 | 68-71-73=212 | |
| T1 | Austin, TX | 800 | 69-71-72=212 | |
| T1 | Fountain Valley, CA | 800 | 75-69-68=212 | |
| 4 | Hermosa Beach, CA | 400 | 71-74-69=214 | |
| 5 | Diamond Bar, CA | 400 | 70-72-73=215 |
About the Northrop Grumman Challenge
Women's college tournament started in 1996 as a way to kick off the Spring season. Team (best four scores out of five players) and individual competitions.
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