Lady'Backs slide on final day

Jump to agate FAYETTEVILLE — The ninth-ranked University of Arkansas women’s golf team fired a final round 308 finishing ninth at the Northrup Grumman Regional Challenge in Palos Verdes, Calif., Wednesday. Arkansas’ 308 was among the higher rounds in the top-notch field and higher than head coach Kelley Hester would have liked. "We didn’t play real well today," said Hester. "We didn’t quite have our best stuff this week. Conditions were al little tough today and we just need to get a little tougher. Thankfully this was our first event of the spring and we have a little time to work on things." El Dorado, Ark., senior Amanda McCurdy paced Arkansas finishing tied for 20th overall with a 228. Her final round 76 was the day’s best for Arkansas but including six bogies and just one birdie, a two on the eighth hole. Sophomore Stacy Lewis turned in a 78 in the final round finishing with 229 and tying for 22nd overall. Senior Courtney Mahon tied for 31s with a 232 (80-74-78) while senior Lindsey Hinshaw finished tied for 41st with a 235 (78-80-77). Sophomore Ashley Medders rounded out the Arkansas scoring with a 246 (78-85-83) and was 68th overall. The final leader board continued to move Wednesday with ninth-ranked Arizona State jumping back ahead of No. 7 Southern California for the win. Arizona State went low with a 300 for an 892 to win the event. No. 20 California held on for third place with a 908, closely followed by No. 11 Wake Forest with 909 and No. 33 Oklahoma State at 910 to round out the top five. Second-ranked UCLA finished sixth, followed by No. 5 Pepperdine, No. 16 Stanford, and No. 8 Arkansas. Ohio State, ranked 19th was 10th with No. 25 Florida, No. 18 Arizona, No. 23 New Mexico and No. 15 Washington rounding out the field. Arkansas travels to the 2006 Lady Puerto Rico Classic Feb. 24-26, in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, in the first of four regular season events remaining. For more information about Arkansas golf, log on to LADYBACKS.COM.