Ayora Leads Hogs at MountainView Collegiate
TUCSON, Ariz. – Arkansas women’s golf is leaving Arizona with a 12-place finish at the MountainView Collegiate with an even-par 864 (287-289-288). Junior Miriam Ayora is coming off a career-low performance after tallying a collegiate best 7-under 209 (70-70-69) to finish in 11th place out of 90 golfers. As a team, Arkansas was seven strokes behind 11th-place North Carolina, while first place Iowa State logged a 60-under 804 to win the tournament to set a new NCAA 54-hole team record. The Razorbacks’ score marks the second-best team score this season.
Ayora logged her second round in the 60s this season, fifth of her career, matching a season-low 69 on Sunday. She had five birdies and two bogeys, including going bogey-free through her first nine holes. With a 7-under 209, Ayora boasted the fourth best par 5s average (4.5) and tied for the 10th most birdies (14) among the field.
Individual Meghan Royal finished her weekend strong with a 2-under 70 in the final round, doing so behind three birdies and just one bogey. Royal rounded out in a tie for 22nd with a career-low 3-under 213 (74-69-70). Her 41 pars were the third most in the field, while her par 4s average of 3.9 was the 16th best.
Kajal Mistry was the third Razorback to finish the three rounds under par, registering a 1-under 215 (70-73-72) for a tie for 33rd place. Mistry’s 72 in the third round was done so with six birdies but three bogeys and a triple bogey on the fifth hole. With her second finish this season under par through 54 holes, Mistry’s 14 birdies was tied for 10th in the field.
Julia Gregg made a little more ground in the leaderboard by recording an even-par 72 in the third round, in which she had four birdies, but started out the day with a double bogey. Gregg was still able to move up to a tie for 63rd with a 4-over 220 (76-72-72). She finished with a tie for the 16th most pars (37) in the field.
Ela Anacona finished the week with a tie for 75th after logging a 6-over 222 (72-75-75). On Sunday, Anacona had two birdies and 12 pars but three bogeys and a double bogey on the seventh hole. Kendall Todd came in 80th with an 8-over 224 (75-74-75). In the third round, Todd had a birdie on the ninth hole, as well as 13 pars, but found some trouble in the back nine holes with four bogeys.
SHAUNA’S STATEMENTS
“Another competition and another opportunity to try and help us create a spark,” said head coach Shauna Taylor. “We have glimpses of really great golf, but we need to put together 54 holes. I know we can do it and look forward to heading to Athens on Wednesday.”
“I’m very proud of Miriam [Ayora] and how she has really become a complete player. To see where she was one year ago and where she is today is a testament to her listening, learning and working in the right places.”
INDIVIDUAL SCORES (FINAL)
11 – Miriam Ayora – 70-70-69=209 (-7)
T23 – Meghan Royal* – 74-69-70=213 (-3)
T33 – Kajal Mistry – 70-73-72=215 (-1)
T63 – Julia Gregg – 76-72-72=220 (+4)
T75 – Ela Anacona – 72-75-73=221 (+6)
80 – Kendall Todd – 75-74-75=224 (+8)
* – Playing as an individual
TEAM SCORES (FINAL)
1 – Iowa State – 280-265-259=804 (-60)
2 – Ohio State – 279-281-277=837 (-27)
3 – TCU – 276-287-279=842 (-22)
T4 – San Jose State – 279-284-282=845 (-19)
T4 – Houston – 291-278-276=845 (-19)
T6 – Tulsa – 285-280-287=852 (-12)
T6 – New Mexico – 287-287-278=852 (-12)
T6 – UNLV – 286-287-279=852 (-12)
T6 – North Texas – 288-283-281=852 (-12)
10 – Nebraska – 289-281-285=855 (-9)
11 – North Carolina – 289-292-276=857 (-7)
12 – Arkansas – 287-289-288=864 (E)
13 – New Mexico State – 290-294-282=866 (+2)
14 – Missouri – 290-289-292=871 (+7)
T15 – Wisconsin – 290-290-292=872 (+8)
T15 – Kansas State – 297-287-288=872 (+8)
17 – Southern Miss – 297-294-297=888 (+24)
UP NEXT
Arkansas will get back to work, as the Razorbacks will play at the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic next week from Friday, March 24 to Sunday, March 26 at the University of Georgia Golf Course, Coach Taylor’s old stomping grounds.
MORE INFORMATION
Keep up with all of the latest news and information and get behind the scenes looks into our program on our social media accounts. Follow us on Twitter at @RazorbackWGolf and check out our Facebook page “Razorback Women’s Golf.” Stats, news and player information can be found at ArkansasRazorbacks.com.
