TULSA, OKLA. – Tahnia Ravnjak shot an even-par 70 and Campbell recorded a 9-over-par 289 in Thursday's third round of the NCAA women's golf championship at Tulsa Country Club.
A sophomore from Cordeaux Heights, Australia, Ravnjak fired the second-best round in school history during NCAA Championship play, behind only Kaylin Yost's opening round 69 on the par-70, 6194-yard Tulsa Country Club layout.
After shooting 305-303—608 over the opening 36 holes, the Camels trimmed 14 strokes off Wednesday's score to sit in 23rd place (897), 12 shots better than Kansas (909) in the 24-school event. CU is one stroke behind Iowa State (306-298-292—896) and seven behind California (296-305-289—890), both of which are ranked in the nation's top 25.
"It was one of those days where you go back and think about what could have been," said 23rd-year head coach John Crooks. "But our team certainly got back to the way they are capable of playing and the way they've played all year. Except for one or two swings today, it could have been an exceptional round."
Third-ranked Duke (293-285-278—856) holds a 6-stroke edge over No.-1 Southern Cal (293-291-278—862) heading into Friday's final round. Oklahoma, which led after the first two days, is third (288-287-291—866).
Co-leaders Doris Chen of Southern Cal (67-72-68—207) and Celine Boutier of Duke (70-70-67—207) are the lone golfers in the 126-player field in red numbers after 54 holes.
"Today was a confidence-builder for our team," said Crooks. "After the way they were beaten up in the first two rounds with the wind and length of the golf course, they did well. Some of the holes on this course are hard, even on a calm day. Today's conditions were more like what we're accustomed to back home in Buies Creek."
Thursday's effort marked Campbell's best-ever team round in NCAA Championship play, surpassing the 301 the team shot in the 1997 national tournament on the par-72 Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio.
Only four strokes separated Campbell's five golfers on Thursday. Freshman Nadine White made five birdies overall and played her final six holes at 1-under-par on the way to a 2-over 72. Fellow freshman Louise Latorre had four birdies in her 3-over round of 73.
Junior Lisbeth Brooks made 14 pars and shot 4-over-74, a score matched by senior Kaylin Yost, who had 12 pars on Thursday.
Through 54 holes, Brooks is Campbell's low individual at 13-over 223 (78-71-74). Yost stands at 225 (69-82-74), while Ravnjak, who made three birdies and 12 pars Thursday, follows at 18-over 228 (83-75-70). Latorre (78-79-73) and White (80-78-72) are in a tie at 230.
Friday's final round starts at 7:00 a.m. (CDT).
NCAA Women's Golf Championship
Tulsa CC / Tulsa, Okla.
May 20-23, 2014 / Par 70, 6194 Yards
Third Round Team Results: 1. Duke 293-285-278—856, 2. Southern California 293-291-278—862, 3. Oklahoma 288-287-291—866, 4. UCLA 291-293-283—867, 5. Mississippi State 302-285-283—870, T6. Arizona State 293-287-291—871, T6. Arizona 298-286-287—871, T6. North Carolina State 307-284-280—871, 9. Tulane 303-294-278—875, T10. Ohio State 299-291-288—878, T10. Northwestern 305-289-284—878, T12. Alabama 305-285-289—879, T12. Vanderbilt 303-290-286—879, 14. Stanford 300-286-294—880, 15. Washington 299-289-293—881, 16. South Carolina 301-299-283—883, 17. Texas A&M 305-292-288—885, 18. Virginia 303-295-288—886, 19. Florida 305-292-290—887, T20. California 296-305-289—890, T20. Michigan State 305-283-302—890, 22. Iowa State 3056-298-292—896, 23. Campbell 305-303-289—897, 24. Kansas 313-293-303—909.
Third Round Individual Leaders: T1. Doris Chen (Southern Cal) 67-72-68—207, T1. Celine Boutier (Duke) 70-70-67—207, T3. Chonlada Chayanun (Iowa State) 72-69-69—210, T3. Alyssa Ferrell (Michigan State) 69-69-72—210, T3. Lauren Kim (Stanford) 67-71-72—210.
Campbell Individuals: T65. Lisbeth Brooks 78-71-74—223, T77. Kaylin Yost 69-82-74—225, T93. Tahnia Ravnjak 83-75-70—228, T104. Louise Latorre 78-79-73—230, T104. Nadine White 80-78-72—230.
