Arkansas Splits The Day In Athens

ATHENS, Ga. – The 16th-ranked University of Arkansas women’s golf team went 1-1 in match play action in rounds two and three of the Liz Murphy Collegiate Classic in Athens, Georgia on Saturday.

The Razorbacks opened with a 2-2-1 win over Auburn that had to go to the tie-breaker giving Arkansas a 1-up victory. Arkansas moved on facing the host Bulldogs falling on Georgia’s home course, 3-1-1. The Razorbacks face Denver in their final match on Sunday.

Sophomores Maria Fassi and Kaylee Benton both played to 3 & 2 wins in their morning matches against the Tigers. After trading holes early, Fassi grabbed a 1-up lead with a birdie on No. 16, the seventh hole of her round, and never surrendered the advantage. She was 3-up at the turn and led by as many as four before sealing the win on the seventh hole.

Benton also won but had to come from behind to do so. She trailed by two early and cut the deficit to one winning hole one after the turn. It was the first of three consecutive bogeys by her opponent allowing Benton to take the lead on her 12th hole of the round. She would add a cushion on No. 4 with a birdie winning in 16 holes.

Alana Uriell finished all square while Summar Roachell and Cara Gorlei dropped their matches.

Arkansas won the tie breaker and went on to face the home team in the second match of the day. Uriell picked up the win, 1-up through 13 holes before the contest was suspended. Benton finished all square through 12 holes but losses by Fassi, Gorlei and Roachell were the difference for Arkansas.

“Unfortunately we came up short against Georgia this afternoon,” Arkansas head coach Shauna Estes-Taylor said. I think the Auburn match drained us a bit and we came out in the afternoon very flat. As I’ve said before, you learn a lot from a defeat and I know this group will rest up and be ready to go for our morning match on Sunday.”

Match 1 vs. Auburn

Match 2 vs. Georgia