April 23, 2012
Results and Live Scoring | Vatananugulkit Interview
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - Freshman Beverly Vatananugulkit fired an even-par 72 Monday and is in first place while junior Amy Simanton matched her round and is tied for second as No. 22 UC Davis took the lead after two rounds of the Big West Women's Golf Championship at San Luis Obispo Country Club.
The Aggies, who have three players in the top eight, started the day five shots off the lead set by UC Irvine but fired an 8-over 295 while the Anteaters shot 302. UC Davis is 24-over 600 after 36 holes, UC Irvine (602) is two shots back and Long Beach State (611) is in third.
Demi Runas had a 74 and is in eighth, freshman Blair Lewis is tied for 12th after a 78, and sophomore Jessica Chulya carded a 77 and is tied for 18th.
Vatananugulkit had a solid second round, carding two birdies, 14 pars and just two bogeys on the par-72, 6,028-yard course. She was 1 under after two holes, made the turn 1 over, and then played the final nine holes a shot under par and is 3-over 147 overall.
Simanton had a strong start to her day as well, picking up a birdie on the par-5 1st hole, adding another on the par-5 7th and completed her front nine a shot under par. She added a birdie on the back to help her finish at par. Simanton's tied with Ronnie Valerio of UC Irvine at 4 over, a shot back of Vatananugulkit.
Runas had a three-shot improvement over her opening round on Sunday, playing the first 13 holes on Monday a shot in the red thanks to 12 pars and also a birdie on the par-5 10th. She had four straight bogeys down the stretch but finished strong with a birdie on the par-4 18th.
Lewis had two birdies to help spark her day and is 11 over for the tournament while Chulya had an early birdie and then eight pars on the back nine as she moved to 12 over after two rounds.
"We are back in the tournament and competing hard to the end," said Aggie coach Anne Walker. "Tomorrow will come down to the wire but we are looking forward to it. We will rely on the experience of Amy and Demi as we look to go low tomorrow."
Cal State Fullerton, which had the day's best round with a 294, is in fourth and is followed by Cal State Northridge (621), Cal Poly (629) and UC Riverside (644).
UC Davis entered the tournament as the two-time defending champion and will play with UC Irvine and Long Beach State in the final groups beginning at 8:50 a.m. on Tuesday. The tournament's winner earns an automatic berth into the NCAA Regionals next month.
BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIP
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
San Luis Obispo Country Club
Par 72, 6,028 yards
36 of 54 holes
TEAMS
1. UC DAVIS, 305-295-600
2. UC Irvine, 300-302-602
3. Long Beach State, 306-305-611
4. Cal State Fullerton, 319-294-613
5. Cal State Northridge, 313-308-621
6. Cal Poly, 320-309-629
7. UC Riverside, 322-322-644
INDIVIDUAL
1. Beverly Vatananugulkit, UC Davis, 75-72-147
UC DAVIS
1. Beverly Vatananugulkit, 75-72-147
T2. Amy Simanton, 76-72-148
8. Demi Runas, 77-74-151
T12. Blair Lewis, 77-78-155
T18. Jessica Chulya, 79-77-156
