March 5, 2012

Live scoring and results

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Demi Runas fired a 3-under 69 in Monday's second round to move into third and leading three Aggies in the top 10 as the No. 25 UC Davis women's golf team grabbed second place after 36 holes of the Juli Inkster Spartan Invitational, hosted by San Jose State at Almaden Golf and Country Club.

Runas is 1 under for the tournament to lead the way for UC Davis which also has freshman Beverly Vatananugulkit in seventh at 2-over and junior Amy Simanton tied for eighth at 3-over. Sophomore Jessica Chulya is tied for 23rd at 8-over while freshman Blair Lewis is tied for 45th at 15-over.

The Aggies, playing just their second tournament of the spring, shot 7-over 295 in the first round before cutting two shots off that in the afternoon for a 12-over 588. Cal, ranked 23rd and the two-time defending champion, leads UC Davis by just five shots with No. 13 Washington (596) and No. 21 Oregon (597) rounding out the top four.

The Aggies have finished second to the Golden Bears each of the last two seasons but behind strong play in each round Monday have put themselves into contention.

"We are within striking distance of Cal which is a very good team with three seniors making a statement," said UC Davis coach Anne Walker. "I think the key to tomorrow is playing with passion and digging our heels in to make up-and-downs. If we come out swinging with confidence, good things will happen."

Simanton led the way with a 72 in the first round as UC Davis went down by eight shots to Cal. But the Aggies fired a 293 team score in the second round - best among the 12 teams - to rally closer to the Bears. Runas' solid round was supported by a 72 from Vatananugulkit.

Runas had a birdie, three bogeys and 14 pars in her first-round 74 before opening the second round with a bogey. But she turned things around quickly with a birdie on the par-3 6th hole and then had three more birdies and 10 pars over her next 13 holes to go to 3 under which is where she eventually finished. She had five birdies in the second round overall.

Vatananugulkit began her day with a 74 that featured two birdies, 14 pars and two bogeys before playing a steady round in the afternoon. She had a birdie-4 on the 10th hole, a bogey on the 11th but then finished with 12 consecutive pars to card a 72. Simanton had back-to-back birdies in her first-round 72 - she had three overall - and then had two more while firing a 75 in the second.

Chulya had rounds of 75 and 77, collecting three birdies overall and eight straight pars in the second round while Lewis had an 81 in the morning before improving by three shots in the afternoon when she posted 12 pars.

Cal's Daniela Holmquist had rounds of 71 and 69 and has a one-shot lead over teammate Joanne Lewis who is second at 3-under. Runas is the only other player in the field below par.

The tournament concludes with 18 holes on Tuesday morning beginning at 8:30.

JULI INKSTER SPARTAN INVITATIONAL
San Jose, Calif. (hosted by San Jose State)
Almaden Golf and Country Club
Par 72, 6,169 yards
36 of 54 holes

TEAMS
1. California, 287-296-583
2. UC DAVIS, 295-293-588
3. Washington, 296-300-596
4. Oregon, 297-300-597
T5. UC Irvine, 301-303-604
T5. San Jose State, 300-304-604
7. Gonzaga, 306-312-618
8. Colorado State, 309-310-619
9. San Francisco, 315-313-628
10. Fresno State, 313-315-628
11. Nevada, 318-314-632
12. Hawaii, 323-326-649

INDIVIDUALS
1. Daniela Holmquist, Cal, 71-69-140

UC DAVIS
3. Demi Runas, 74-69-143
7. Beverely Vatananugulkit, 74-72-146
T8. Amy Simanton, 72-75-147
T23. Jessica Chulya, 75-77-152
T45. Blair Lewis, 81-78-159