Wongthanavimok Gets Cats Off to Strong Start at Regionals

RALEIGH, N.C. – Arizona Women’s Golf opened the NCAA Raleigh Regional with a strong 2-under par performance on Monday, ending the first day of NCAA Regionals in fourth place. Freshman Nena Wongthanavimok paced the Wildcats with a 2-under round of 70, which put her in a four-way tie for fifth among all players. Arizona was one of six teams to break par in the first round at NC State out of a field of twelve.

“Today was a great start for us at NCAA Regionals, and I am very proud of how all our young ladies competed,” said head coach Laura Ianello. “Nena was able to set the tone for us as our first golfer out, and she was excellent for us with a bogey-free front nine before finishing in the top five. Our entire lineup gave us quality scores, and we played much better on the front nine after the turn. We have set ourselves up for a good week, and now we have to go out and post another great round tomorrow.”

Arizona started its round on the 10^th hole, which was a 369-yard, par 4. As a team, the Wildcats sank five birdies on the back nine with eight bogeys. They lineup went on to score seven birdies with only four bogeys after the turn. Arizona ended its first day in the top three in par-4 and par-5 scoring at Lonnie Poole Golf Course.

Sophomore Lilas Pinthier joined Wongthanavimok in the top 10 in the first round, shooting 1-under par that put her in a tie for ninth place. Pinthier’s round of Monday was a steady 71 that consisted of two birdies, a bogey and 15 pars.

The Wildcats enter Tuesday’s second round as part of a top five of the leaderboard that is separated by a total of five strokes. Arizona has a one stroke advantage over fifth-place Purdue and a three-stroke edge over sixth-place Florida. Host NC State leads all teams at 6-under par with Florida State sitting one stroke behind the Wolfpack.

The Cats will tee off at 5 a.m. (MST) on Tuesday, beginning on the first hole. Arizona will play alongside the fifth-place Boilermakers and sixth-place Gators.