Beth Coulter is just one shot off the pace after she carded a 70 on day two of the NCAA Championships at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad.
It leaves Coulter in a share of fourth place on five-under-par while her score backed up by a 73 from teammate Patience Rhodes has helped Arizona State University into the all important top-15. ASU sit 9th on the leaderboard heading into the final round. After Monday the top-8 will advance to the matchplay.
Coulter is yet to clinch a victory since joining ASU and the senior, playing her last event for the college would love to bow out in style either as an individual winner or helping her team to a record ninth NCAA crown.
“I was focused on playing my game and not worrying about the standings. I know if I play well, that will take care of itself,” said the Kirkistown Castle star.
“It is super exciting that the team is in contention and playing for a chance to advance. Since it is my last tournament in college, I want to give it my all and perform for my teammates. I know they will be working hard to find success in the next round.”
Coulter, who celebrated a call up to the GB&I Curtis Cup team for the second time, is second in the field for birdies made after rolling in nine over the first 36 holes.
The format: In the championship finals, all 30 teams and six individuals will complete 54 holes of stroke play. Following 54 holes of competition, the top 15 teams, along with the top nine individuals, will advance for one additional day of stroke play to determine the top eight teams for match-play competition and the 72-hole stroke-play individual champion. The top eight teams after 72 holes of play will be placed into a bracket with the No. 1 seed playing the No. 8 seed, the No. 2 seed playing the No. 7 seed, the No. 3 seed playing the No. 6 seed and the No. 4 seed playing the No. 5 seed in match play.
A total of five points will be available, with one point being awarded for each individual match. Winning teams will advance to the semifinals and subsequently the finals. The first team to win three points within the team match will advance, or in the case of the final match, be declared the national champion.
Meanwhile, Grand Canyon student Gavin O’Neill is PGA Tour start hunting and is in a share of third place heading into the final round of the National Golf Invitational with a start on golf’s biggest tour the prize for the winner.
Leave a comment