Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Maria Jose Marin has 18 holes left and a share of first place to protect.
The rest of the Arkansas women’s golf lineup has some catching up to do.
Marin shot a 3-under 69 on Sunday at the Blessings Collegiate Invitational. That moved the senior to 7-under for the tournament.
She’s even with Princeton’s Thanana Kotchasanmanee at the top of the board.
As a team, the Razorbacks went the other way. They slid to third at 12-over through two rounds.
Alabama is still in front at 2-under. It shot a 6-over 294 on Sunday and didn’t lose its spot, which tells you how the day went for just about everybody.
That leaves the Hogs with a 14-shot gap to chase in Monday’s final round.
Wind makes Sunday a grind at Blessings
Saturday was overcast. Sunday brought a clear blue sky and wind blowing 15 to 20 mph.
Pretty to look at and a pain to play in.
Marin handled it better than most. She made six birdies and gave back three bogeys.
Put that next to her opening 68 and she’s the only Arkansas player under par.
Sophomore Sara Brentcheneff is the next closest. She began the day at 2-under and in fifth.
A 3-over 75 cost her just one spot. She’s sixth at 1-over.
Brentcheneff didn’t have a blowup hole. Five bogeys did the damage instead.
Liljeberg rides roller coaster on her first nine
Good luck summing up Ebba Liljeberg’s round in one word.
The sophomore opened on the par-5 10th and birdied it. Nobody in the Razorbacks’ lineup had made one yet.
Then she doubled each of the next two holes. So much for the easy start.
No. 14 played as the hardest hole on the course Sunday, and it got her for a bogey.
She answered with birdies at Nos. 15 and 16. That’s two shots back in a hurry.
The par-3 17th took those away and then some. She made a triple bogey there.
Things got quieter after the turn. Eight pars and a birdie gave her a 1-under second nine, and she’s tied for 20th at 8-over.
What’s left for Hogs today
Swetha Sathish ran into three double bogeys on the way to a 77. The sophomore is 10-over and tied for 23rd.
Senior Abbey Schutte shot 78, and that score didn’t count toward the team total. She’s at 12-over for the event.
Two more Arkansas golfers are playing as individuals.
Freshman Melliyal Schmitt was even par after 18 holes. Then she went 6-over across her next nine and signed for a 79, which dropped her into a tie for 18th at 7-over.
Natalie Blonien turned in a 77. She’s one shot behind Schmitt and shares 20th with Liljeberg.
Monday starts early. The individuals tee off at 8 a.m. and the first of the team groups goes at 9:50 a.m.
Marin doesn’t need anything fancy. Another round like the first two would do just fine.
The Razorbacks need a lot more help than that. Fourteen shots is a lot to make up in one day, wind or no wind.
