May 22, 2014
Freshmen Simin Feng and Antonia Scherer shot a team-leading 71 on Thursday and Vanderbilt posted its best round of the tournament with a 286 and is in 12th place in the team standings. Junior Kendall Martindale fired a two-over par, 72, on Thursday, and is the Commodores’ overall leader with a total of 212 (72-68-72), which is good for a tie for eighth on the individual leader board.
Junior Irina Gabasa also posted a solid round for the Commodores, matching Martindale’s two-over, 72.
For the tournament, Vanderbilt has a three-round total of 879 (303-290-286) and is tied with Alabama for 12th.
“I’m really pleased with the effort and the attitude we played with today,” said Vanderbilt head coach Greg Allen. “And, I’m really happy for Toni and the way she handled herself today. I really challenged her yesterday and it was great to see her respond the way she did. With the exception of the first round, we’re really not playing that poorly. This team has been resilient all year and I don’t expect them to stop fighting until the final putt drops tomorrow.”
Martindale, from Jefferson City, Tenn., is chasing the Commodores’ all-time best individual finish at the NCAA Championship, which is currently held by Sarah Jacobs, who finished in a tie for 6th at the 2004 championship.
“Today I did not play as well as yesterday, obviously, but I think this is a tough course and you have to attack it each day,” said Martindale. “Two-over is not terrible, so I feel like I am in a good place to go into tomorrow. I feel good about it.”
Duke surged to the top of the team standings with a two-under par round on Thursday and leads second-place USC by six strokes.
Individually, Doris Chen of USC and Celine Boutier of Duke are leading the tournament, with each at 3-under par, 207.
The Commodores will tee off on Friday in the final round at 7:55 a.m. CT.
T12. Vanderbilt – 303-290-286=879
T8. Kendall Martindale – 72-68-72=212
T20. Simin Feng – 75-71-71=217
T69. Irina Gabasa – 76-76-72=224
T101. Antonia Scherer – 80-78-71=229
T109. Jennifer Hahn – 81-75-75=231
