On moving day in Lubbock, Texas, UC Davis did just that – bumping up to fifth in the team standings and just one stroke out from third in the second day of the NCAA Lubbock Regional from the Rawls Course at Texas Tech.
The Aggies bettered their first round score by 11 strokes, finishing the day at 8-over 296 for a 36-hole aggregate of 27-over 603. UC Davis finished the round trailing Iowa State and Arizona by one stroke and currently hold the fifth and final spot for team advancement. The Aggies will look to hold off Purdue, one stroke back, and the pairing of Texas A&M and Tennessee who sit two shots behind UC Davis.
Senior duo Abigail Leighton and Skyler May both turned in performances of 1-over 73 in the second round to lead the team on the blustery day. Yu Bai added a 74 and Lauren Calderon’s 78 rounded out the countable scores.
With a two-round total of 4-over 148, Leighton is knotted in a four-way tie for eighth individually with May one stroke back in a six-way grouping for 12th. Today, all UC Davis counting scorers recorded at least two birdies on the day with May and Calderon notching a trio of red numbers on the card.
As a team, the Aggies continue to lead the 12-team field in Par 5 average at 4.78 strokes, or 9-under par total. Individually, Calderon, Leighton and Bai each see themselves among the leaders in play at the Par 3s, 4s and 5s, respectively. Calderon is playing the short holes at 2.88 strokes per hole to lead the field while Bai’s mark of 4.50 strokes per hole from distance is tied for tops.
Overnight wind and thunderstorms with locally heavy rainfall of 1-2 inches is expected in the area which could affect morning conditions. Tuesday’s forecast sees partial clearing and stray showers possible in the Lubbock area. The Aggies will tee off for the final 18 beginning at 8 a.m. PT from Hole 10, paired with Arizona and Purdue.
Big West champion Cal State Fullerton got underway at the Gold Canyon Regional from Superstition Mountain GC in Apache Junction, Ariz. The Titans sit in a tie for eighth in the team standings after firing a 16-over 304, knotted with Virgina Tech and one stroke back from California. The squad is currently 13 strokes behind fifth-place Mississippi State vying to get into the Top 5 to advance to the NCAA Championships finals. Arizona State and Oklahoma State are the only two teams in the red, going 1-2 on the leaderboard after the first round of action.
Individually, Cal State Fullerton junior Davina Xanh is one three Big West golfers to shoot under par or better. Hailing from Weston Super Mare, England, Xanh is tied atop the leaderboard after putting together a round of 3-under 69. Starting from Hole 10, Xanh carded three birdies in the first six holes of the round and two more on the back nine to tie with Auburn’s Anna Davis.
Playing as an individual in the region, Cal Poly senior Jensen Jalufa closed with an 18-hole total of 72 to sit one shot back from the leaders. Also making the turn a three under, Jalufka recorded five total birdies in the round.
Long Beach State junior Janae Leovao was even on the day to tie for 11th individually. Remarkably, the Oceanside, Calif., native carded a hole in one at the 165-yard Par 3 17th hole to highlight the round. Twin sister Jasmine sits in 21st on the leaderboard with a 2-over 74.
The Titans will tee off in Tuesday’s second round beginning at 8:55 a.m. PT, going off of Hole 1. The trio of individual competitors from The Big West are set to start at 9:50 a.m. Jalufka and Janae Leovao are paired with Vivian Lu of Washington and starting from the first tee, while Jasmine Leovao starts the round on Hole 10.
The top five teams and the low individual not on a qualifying team from each of six regionals across the country will advance to compete at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in Carslbad, Calif.