Team's performance progresses

Published: Monday, March 1, 1999

Monday, March 1, 1999

WGOLF: Individual play helps UCLA grab third

at weekend tournament

By Amanda Fletcher

Daily Bruin Contributor

In a game where down is good and up is bad, the UCLA women's golf team has got its ups and downs going in the right directions. They captured third place in the Pioneer Electronics Bruin Classic, played from Feb. 22-24.

UCLA stood in fourth place with 317 after the first round, which tied it with USC and Pepperdine. Coach Tobian-Steinmann was not altogether pleased with her team's first round performance.

"They did OK," said Tobian-Steinmann. "I didn't think that they did very good the first day I don't know why, but they got better."

Though they stood only two shots behind second place Texas Christian University, powerhouse Oklahoma State blew by the entire field with a 297.

Freshman Giulia Sergas lead the Bruins with a 76 to put her in a six-way tie for fourth place.

In the second round, UCLA ripped 19 stokes off its previous day's score with a 298. Sophomore Laura Moffat broke-out as she jumped from 26th to sixth place as she shot a one under par 71.

Although the Bruins advanced into second place, they remained tied with Pepperdine. They did, however, manage to shake USC, which fell in the standings despite the efforts of former NCAA Champion sophomore Jennifer Rosales.

Oklahoma continued to lead and ended up capturing the tournament title. Maria Boden (of TCU) finished the course with a one over par 217 to earn herself an individual medal.

Pepperdine finished in second place and recorded a tournament best following a final round of 297 to put them in second place with a three day total of 912. UCLA dropped back down to finish in third place with a total of 919.

Despite a shaky first round, Tobian-Steinmann was pleased with her team's performance.

"We hit the ball good. The team hit fairways and greens. The short game still needs more refining, but we're getting better."

Moffat continued on her rampage completing the last 36 holes at par to chalk up her career best finish at third place.

"I just putted well," said Moffat. "I headed straight and took my chances and made a a lot of birdies."

"She's a little streaky player," said Tobian-Steinmann of Moffat. "She really played good this tournament. It's the first time that she's been up there, but once you get up there, it gets a lot easier."

Though Sergas ended the first round in fourth place and only finished the tournament at seventeenth, Tobian-Steinmann still feels that she had an impact on the teams overall performance.

"Giulia Sergas made a big difference," said Tobian-Steinmann. "She's a steady player, though, and she can just get better."

Rounding out the rest of the team were Bruins Amanda Moltke-leth placed 20th, Leilani Bagby at 31st and Alexandra Gasser at 39th. Garance Dilan playing as an individual finished at 48th.

"We're getting better each tournament, said Tobian-Steinmann. "By the end of the season I think that they'll be breaking into the top 10."

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