Razorbacks Women’s Golf Team Set for NCAA Regional Action

Courtesy University of Arkansas Athletics Department

AUBURN, Ala. – The fifth-ranked University of Arkansas Razorbacks women’s golf team begins NCAA Regional action in Auburn, Ala., Thursday.

Freshman Regina Plasencia opens things up for Arkansas going off at 8:36 a.m. central from the firs tee box.  She is paired with Louise Ridderstrom of UCLA and Daniela Lendl of Alabama.  Arkansas’ second tee time is at 8:47 with senior Victoria Vela having the honors.  Vela plays with Tiffany Lua of UCLA and Hannah Collier of Alabama.

Junior Emma Lavy is in the three spot at 8:58 a.m.  She will play with Lee Lopoez of UCLA and Emma Talley of Alabama.  Freshman Gabriela Lopez tees off at 9:09 a.m. playing with Ani Gulugian of UCLA and Jennifer Kirby of Alabama and junior Emily Tubert tees off at 9:30 playing with Erynne Lee of UCLA and Stephanie Meadow of Alabama.

This year’s selection is the 12th NCAA Regional appearance for the Razorback women’s golf team and the 11th consecutive selection.  Arkansas has finished in the top eight five times and advanced to the NCAA Championship including two consecutive appearances in 2011 and 2012.

The Razorbacks have made six central region appearances, four in the west and is making just the second apperance in the east in program history.  The team’s best finish came in 2001 at the central region where they finished fourth overall at Notre Dame.

“My goal as a coach is to create a solid foundation in golf and in academics,” Arkansas head coach Shauna Estes-Taylor.  “We put a lot of time into recruiting to make sure that each young lady is ready to work hard in the classroom and on the golf course.  I believe we have continued to assemble teams that value our philosophy and the players have done a great job in creating a good balance with both.”

Second-ranked and defending Southeastern Conference championship Alabama headlines the field as the top seeded team at Auburn.  Arkansas is the two seed and joins No. 8 UCLA, No. 11 North Carolina State, No. 12 Virginia, No. 18 Oklahoma State, No. 20 Tulane, No. 23 Texas and No. 26 Notre Dame.  The rest of the field includes Northwestern, Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas State, Auburn, Central Florida, Purdue, East Carolina, Florida International, Ole Miss, East Tennessee State, Tennessee-Chattanooga, James Madison, Eastern Kentucky and Alabama State.

And if you need any more reason to root for the Razorbacks golf team, we offer this fun video from Emily Tubert.