May 5, 2011
2011 NCAA West Regional Player Leaderboard
AUBURN, Wash. - Baylor women's golf junior Chelsey Cothran shot an 82 amid cold and damp conditions Thursday in the first round of the NCAA West Regional at Washington National Golf Club. Cothran is tied for 104th overall in the 126-participant field.
Cothran is only the second golfer in program history to compete in the NCAA postseason as an individual and the first in an NCAA Regional. Melanie Hagewood finished 50th as an individual at the 2002 NCAA Championships, which was also held at Washington National.
"Conditions were very difficult for sure, making for a very wet course," Baylor assistant coach Jordan Cox said. "But it was the same for everyone. (The 82) wasn't the score we were hoping to post by any means."
Only four golfers posted sub-par first rounds; Tennessee's Eric Popson owns a one-stroke lead after shooting 4-under 68. USC's Sophia Popov and UC Davis' Demi Runas are tied for second at 3-under 69, while Washington's Anya Alvarez is fourth at 2-under 70.
"Chelsey had a rough start, but she settled down into her game," Cox said. "She had a steady stretch during the middle part of the round. She has a lot of experience at this level and she'll be better Friday."
Cothran opened the first round with three bogeys and a double-bogey, dropping her to 5-over after four holes. The Springdale, Ark., native rebounded, saving par on seven of the next eight holes. A bogey on the par-5 No. 4 ended that streak. After back-to-back bogeys two holes later, Cothran closed her first round by paring out the final two holes.
"I definitely wasn't hitting the ball like I usually do, which was frustrating," Cothran said. "I felt more comfortable with the conditions after going to the driving range Thursday afternoon. Now I'll come back Friday and try to hit the ball like I did during the afternoon portion of the first round."
The 2011 NCAA West Regional continues Friday with the second round; Cothran will tee off at 3:15 p.m. CDT. Live scoring - in addition to a live chat - will be available at www.golfstat.com
