May 9, 2008

The 20th-ranked University of New Mexico women's golf team moved just above the cutline after two rounds of the NCAA East Regional being played at the University of Georgia Golf Course in Athens, Ga. Complete results and live scoring are available at www.golfstat.com.

Needing to finish in the top 8 to advance to the NCAA Championships on their home course later this month, the Lobos rest precariously in the 8th spot entering Saturday's final round. New Mexico begins the final round at 7 a.m. MDT and will be paired with Wake Forest and Virginia.

The NCAA Championships are May 20-23 at the University of New Mexico Championship Course.

UNM shot 301 today - the fourth-best round among the 21 teams - for a 36-hole total of 605. Virginia is a stroke behind the Lobos at 606 while Louisville sits in 10th at 608. Wake Forest is two strokes ahead of UNM at 603.

Florida moved past top-ranked Duke for the team lead. The Gators fired a 295 today for a total of 585. They hold a 3-stroke advantage over the Blue Devils.

Starting play on No. 10 today, the Lobos were outstanding early, making the turn at even-par. It looked as if UNM was poised to post the best round of the day, climbing as high as 5th in the standings early on the back nine.

However, New Mexico played the last five holes in 11-over par to finish at 13-over.

Senior Alexandra Phelps continued her stellar play, shooting a 1-over 73, and is all alone in 6th place at even par 144. The Albuquerque Eldorado grad posted birdies on 8 and 12 to move to 2 under on her round, but made bogey on three of final six holes.

Phelps is six shots back of South Carolina's Benedicte Toumpsin, who had a 70 today and a total of 6-under 138.

Lobo junior Morgan Grantham had a great round going, sitting at 1 under heading to the No. 16 tee. However, she suffered double bogeys on 16 and 18 to finish with a 3-over 75. Grantham is tied for 61st place at 156.

Hampered by three straight bogeys on the backside, sophomore Jodie Ewart shot 77 and is tied for 40th at 153. Sophomore Britney Choy is tied for 49th at 154 after a 78 today. After shooting an 82 in the first round, junior Mikaela Backstedt rebounded with a 76. She is tied for 73rd at 158.