April 5, 2011
HALF MOON BAY, Calif. --- Texas A&M freshman Katerina Ruzickova fired a three-under 69 to grab the individual crown and help the Aggie women's golf team to a runner-up team finish at the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate on Tuesday at the Half Moon Bay Golf Links.
Ruzickova, from Ostrava, Czech Republic via Xavier Prep in Arizona, began the day in seventh place but jumped to the top position on the strength of an eagle and two birdies. Finishing at two-over for the tournament, it was the first collegiate victory of Ruzickova's career at A&M. Ruzickova's round was highlighted by her eagle-2 on the 386-yard sixth hole when she holed out from 125 yards.
"I fought hard through all three rounds, and my motto was just `stay patient'," Ruzickova said. "There were many putts that just didn't go in, but I didn't get discouraged. It was like a miracle when I holed out from 125 yards, and I knew I was still in it when that happened. It's exciting to get my first college victory, but it would have been better if we could have won as a team."
Added Aggie head coach Trelle McCombs, "Kat didn't really make a lot of putts in the last 40 holes, but then she holed out on a par four on six for an eagle, and that really seemed to spur her on. Not that she made a ton of putts after that, she made a couple of birdies coming in, but it was a situation where that eagle gave her some confidence and momentum to keep going. To shot a 69 on the final day under pressure, especially for a freshman, is awesome."
The Aggies had the lead after the first two rounds, but couldn't hold off the hard-charging Oregon Ducks, who won the team crown by a single stroke at 27-over. The Ducks fired a final round 2-over 290, which was the lowest round of the tournament by any team by three strokes. The Aggies shot an 8-over 296, the fourth-lowest round of the day, and were 28-over for the tournament with rounds of 298-298-296.
"Oregon played great. There was no denying them today," McCombs said. "They made some fantastic up and downs from some places that you never would have thought they would. We needed to make a few more putts out there, and that's what it came down to."
Scoring for the Aggies in the final round were Ruzickova (-3), senior Sarah Beth Davis (+5). Freshman Natalie Reeves was +7, and sophomore Susy Grunden, playing as an individual, was +1.
Ruzickova carded rounds of 73-76-69=218 to post the two-stroke victory over Oregon's Ashley Edwards, who turned in the low round of the tournament with a 4-under 68. Reeves, who led after two rounds, finished in a tie for sixth at 7-over with rounds of 73-71-79=223. Zwartynski tied for 13th at 9-over with rounds of 75-76-74=225. Grunden's final round 73 moved her from t31st to a tie for 23rd at 12-over with rounds of 78-77-73=228. Davis placed in a tie for 26th at 13-over with rounds of 77-75-77=229. Smith tied for 55th with rounds of 79-83-76=238.
The Pacific Coast Intercollegiate finished the Aggies' regular season. The Aggies will resume action when they try to defend their 2010 team crown at the 2011 Big 12 Championships April 22-24 in Columbia, Mo.