NC State celebrates Lady Puerto Rico Classic
(NC State Athletics Photo)
RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico (February 14, 2017) -- With an impressive final round rally NC State has won the Lady Puerto Rico Classic hosted by Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa. Beginning the day nine-strokes off the pace the Wolfpack used their sixth-best 18-hole score in program history to surge to the title.
Winners for the first time this season, the Wolfpack turned in three under-par rounds for a 3 under day that pushed them to 13 over for the week and one shot in front of runner-ups Furman and Kent State. TCU at 19 over and Georgia at 20 over rounded out the top five.
NC State was led by medalist winner Naomi Ko. The sophomore finished 1 under and in a five-way tie for the top spot but she earned the title thanks to a scorecard playoff. Ko finished play tied with Maria Vesga (Baylor), 36-hole leader Haylee Harford (Furman), Amy Lee (Baylor) and Panitta Yusabai (Maryland).
When Ko teed of on Tuesday she trailed by six-strokes before using a 2-under 70 final round to reach 1 under for the week. Ko began her round on the 4th hole and she produced a four birdie, one bogey scorecard
NC State was also led this week by the play of Sarah Bae (T9; +2) and Cecily Overbey (T30; +9).
-NC State athletics contributed to this story
36-Hole Recap
With one round remaining at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic hosted by Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa the leaderboard belongs to Furman. Riding the fine play of individual leader Haylee Harford the Paladins are 7 over as a team and three shots clear of Kent State.
In search of her first collegiate victory Harford, the 2016 Southern Conference Women’s Golf Freshman of the Year, has turned in rounds of 70-69 thus far and at 5 under she leads the individual race by three-strokes.
On Monday Harford caught fire down the stretch and after being even-par through 13 holes she rolled in 14th, 15th and 17th hole birdies to play the final five holes in 3 under.
Furman has also been buoyed to the top of the standings by the play of Taylor Totland (T6; E). The senior has produced rounds of 71-73. If Furman can hold on Tuesday it will be their second title of the year after winning the fall season opening Minnesota Invitational.
Trailing Harford in the medalist standings are a Amy Lee (Baylor), Gabby Barker (Texas Tech) and Elodie van Dievoet (Michigan) all in second place tie at 2 under while Maria Vesga (Baylor) sits in fifth at 1 under.
In the team standings Kent State (+10) is Furman's closest pursuer followed by TCU (+14) in third, Arkansas (+15) in fourth and Georgia, NC State, Michgan all at 16 over sharing fifth.
ABOUT THE Puerto Rico Women's Classic
54-hole women's college tournament hosted by
Purdue University. Team (best four scores out of five
players) and individual competitions.
View Complete Tournament Information