Fassi, Razorbacks still in contention at NCAA Championship

PHOTO BY RAZORBACK SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS

FAYETTEVILLE — Strong finishes by Maria Fassi, Brooke Matthews and Ximena Gonzalez kept Arkansas near the top of the leaderboard at the 2019 NCAA Women’s Golf Championship at Blessings Golf Club on Sunday.

Fassi played the final four holes 2-under in the completion of the rain-suspended second round on Sunday morning. She eagled No. 7 — the 16th hole of her round — to finish 2-under, shooting 71.

The senior All-American is tied for second, shooting 72-71—143 (-3) with one round of stroke play remaining. She is one shot back of the leader with 18 holes remaining.

Matthews had a big par save to finish strong while Gonzalez birdied two of her final four holes helping the Razorbacks to a fourth-place tie when their round was complete.

Senior Kaylee Benton is also in the clubhouse in the top 10 at sixth, shooting 73-74—147.

The format for the national championship has changed this week after weather forced the suspension of the second round. The teams in the morning flight had nearly completed their round on Saturday when heavy rains pulled players off the course.

All 24 teams returned to the links Sunday at 10 a.m. as half of the field finished round two while the other half played the full round.

Teams will move on to a final round of stroke play Monday that will determine the individual national champion. The top eight teams after stroke play move on to match play Tuesday and Wednesday with the team champion crowned after the final match.

Fassi on her eagle on No. 7

“I would usually hit a 3-wood off the tee, but it was playing down wind, so I took a hybrid off the tee. I ended up in abut the same place I would have if I hit my 3-wood because of the wind. I hit it pretty good to the middle of the fairway and had about 200 yards to the pin. I knew I would still have a little bit of help from the wind, so I hit my 6-iron to the front of the green and it released to six or seven feet. I had a pretty easy putt straight up the hill and not much break. I took a good look at it and I was able to make that putt for eagle.”

Arkansas Lineup

Arkansas Lineup

T4      Arkansas                            302-296=598     +14
T2      Maria Fassi (1)                    72-71=143        -3
T6      Kaylee Benton (2)               74-73=147        +1
T33     Brooke Matthews (4)           76-76=152        +6
T105   Dylan Kim (3)                      80-82=162        +16
T114   Ximena Gonzalez (5)           88-76=164        +18

The Field

1        Duke                        305-281=586     +2
2        Southern California    306-289=595     +11
3        Texas                       302-294=596     +12
T4      Arkansas                  302-296=585     +14
T4      Arizona                     304-294=598     +14
6        Stanford                   304-300=604     +20
7        Purdue                     312-294=606     +22
8        Northwestern            313-294=607     +23
T9      Auburn                     313-295=608     +24
T9      Wake Forest              309-299=608     +24
11      Ole Miss                    314-297=611     +27
12      Arizona State            310-302=612     +28
13      Florida                      321-294=615     +31
14      Illinois                      320-296=616     +32
15      Florida State             321-298=619     +35
16      Virginia                     314-307=621     +37
17      Washington               311-311=622     +38
18      UCLA                        315-308=623     +39
19      San Jose State           324-302=626     +42
20      Central-Florida           321-309=630     +46
21      Kent State                 325-308=633     +49
T22    Indiana                      322-313=635     +51
T22    Vanderbilt                  319-316=635     +51
24      Tennessee                 328-311=639     +55