Walla and Vandermade wrap up successful summer competition
Aug. 8, 2008
AUSTIN, Texas -- The University of Texas women's golfers had a successful week as senior Kristin Walla won the Colorado Match Play Championship and incoming freshman Nicole Vandermade finished third-place at the Royal Canadian Junior Girls Championship. In Parker, Colo., Walla earned the No. 2 seed in the match play bracket after she fired a 1-over-par 74 during the stroke play qualifier. Her play stayed consistent through the first head-to-head matchup on Tuesday, winning 9-and-7. She advanced to the next round where she was paired with Colorado Hall of Famer Janet Moore, a five-time stroke play champion during the 1990s. After taking the lead on the front nine, Moore came back within one stroke heading into the final hole. Both walked away with pars sending Walla to the 36-hole final against Lynette Duran. Duran birdied the opening hole but followed with three straight bogeys to put Walla at 2-up. Despite Duran pulling within five after the 19th hole, Walla's play stayed strong as she held on to win 5-and-4. Vandermade, a winner of three tournaments during this summer, fired back-to-back 2-over-par 74s during the first two rounds putting her in fourth place heading into the third day of competition. Playing in near perfect conditions, she shot an even-par 72 to move up to the top of the leader board heading into the final round. On the last day, Vandermade jumped out to an early lead after sinking a birdie on the first hole. She followed up with three pars before bogeying No. 5. She stayed in the top two throughout the rest of the round, recording three bogeys and two birdies on the back nine to finish just one shot short of first place with a 7-over-par 295.
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