Sept. 25, 2009
The No. 1 Arizona State women's golf team overcame a sluggish start to finish round one of the Mason Rudolph Women's Championship tied for third with Alabama. The Sun Devils shot a 6-under on the final three holes to finish the day at 8-under 280. The Sun Devils will enter the second round two shots behind leaders No. 2 USC and No. 8 Auburn. The tournament is being held at the par-72 6,271-yard North Course at the Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin, Tenn.
"We finished very strong today," said eighth year head coach Melissa Luellen. "The girls stayed patient and took advantage of some birdie holes coming in and vaulted from playing very average to playing great. The last two holes in team competition are very important and they did great."
Freshman Jennifer Johnson led the Sun Devils in her ASU debut by shooting a 3-under 69. The U.S. Women's Amateur runner-up knocked in three birdies on the front nine. She recovered from two bogeys on holes 11 and 12 by finishing the last two holes 2-under. She will enter round two tied for eighth.
Giulia Molinaro and Juliana Murcia each shot a 2-under 70 in the first round. Molinaro came back from a bogey on the second hole to finish the day with three birdies, including two on the final three holes. Murcia also shot three birdies over the day. Both finished the round tied for 15th.
Carlota Ciganda had the best finish of the day. The returning All-American started the day with a double bogey but overcame that at the end of the round. Ciganda went birdie-birdie-birdie on the last three holes to finish 1-under 71. Sweeney carded a 3-over 75.
"There are a lot of great teams out here," said Luellen. "A lot of teams are playing well and we have two more days of work ahead of us."
The Mason Rudolph Women's Championship concludes Sunday. Results for the tournament can be found on www.golfstat.com.