Women’s golf ends third day tied with USC

Twenty-four teams from across the country went all the way to New Mexico for the NCAA Women’s Golf Championships, but after three days the tournament has become a battle between two Los Angeles teams.

With 18 holes to play today, UCLA sits tied in first place with USC at 16-over par. There is a 12-shot gap between the Bruins and the second-place teams – Arizona State, Denver and Arkansas. The second-place teams are at 28-over par. Three other teams – Texas A&M, Florida and Duke – are within 20 shots as well. That may be an insurmountable distance if the Bruins and Trojans play as steadily as they have in the tournament’s first few days.

The conditions at the University of New Mexico Championship Course have been tremendously difficult and erratic. Players have had to contend with 40 mph winds, and play was briefly suspended Thursday due to lightning.

Still, the UCLA team is in excellent position to bring back its first national title since 2004.

Junior Tiffany Joh has led the way for the Bruin team. She carded an even-par 72 in round three to put her at 1-under par for the tournament. Joh is one of three individuals under par after three days and is one stroke behind the tournament’s individual leader, Arizona State’s Azahara Munoz.

UCLA sophomore Sydnee Michaels is also within striking distance of the individual title. Michaels is 2-over par for the tournament, but she has struggled in the latter rounds when the winds have gusted hardest. She shot a 74 Wednesday in round two and a 75 Thursday in round three.

Michaels, Joh and Glory Yang were the only UCLA players to complete their third rounds Thursday. There was a huge delay at holes 1-4, so players who began on the back nine were not able to finish all 18 holes before darkness halted play.

UCLA’s Maiya Tanaka will have to finish holes 1 and 2 today before she begins her final round. Maria Jose Uribe will have to play the second hole because she began on the third hole.

USC also has one player who needs to finish the final holes of her third round before she begins round four.

That situation could pose problems for the Bruins and Trojans because the first hole was on average the most difficult hole during round three.

The wind will again be a factor today; the Albuquerque forecast predicts 27 mph winds throughout the day. Wind of that speed will force players to reconsider club selection and trajectory on every shot.