W-GOLF IN SIXTH AT KENT YOUEL INVITE

Oahu, Hawai'i - Buff sophomore Hannah Hoch (69-72-141) was tied for first place after Tuesday morning's first round after a season low 69 and third after the second, and the University of Colorado women's golf team owns a share of sixth place in their strongest tournament field to date this season in the Kent Youel Invitational here on the 6,033 yard Kapolei Golf Course.

The Buffs' 299-304-603 is their strongest ever start in this tournament, in the most productive fall of the program's 11-year history. A year ago CU went 312-313-310-935 to finish 12th here.

"We can definitely see our improvement this year," said head coach Anne Kelly. "Our putting needs work, but we're chipping better and our short game is definitely improved.

UCLA counted seven of eight scores under par towards their team score and the Bruins (283-285-568) lead the 15-team field by 16 strokes, ahead of Arizona State (584), Oregon (592), 2003 champion Oklahoma (593) and UC-Irvine (597). The Bruins' Charlotte Myorkas sits a top the leaderboard with a 5-under 139, a one-stroke lead over teammate Amie Cochran (70-70-140). Hoch, and UCLA's Susie Mathews (71-70-141) are in third.

Hoch was tied for the lead after this morning's first round with a season-low 69. She turned in a scorecard that included four birdies while shooting par on 12 additional holes to hold ground with UCLA's Mayorkas. The two had a single stroke edge on the field after 18. She shot par on the second round and her 141 dropped her to third.

"I only had one bogey, and I shouldn't have had that," said Hoch. "I hit so many greens that I would two-putt at most. I love these greens. I play on Bermuda greens at home (Turlock, Calif.), so these were easy to adjust to. The second round I had a few more bogeys and less birdies and the winds picked up, but I still had solid hitting and hit a lot of greens."

Senior Allison Rella, playing in her third career tournament on Oahu soil, carded her career best here, with a 3-over 75 on the first hole and 1-over 73 on the second. She bogeyed holes 3, 4 and 7 but re-grouped to shoot par the remainder of the first loop and most of the second. After two rounds she's in a share of 13th place with a 148.

"Comparing her freshman year to her senior year in this tournament, you can really see the maturity of her game," complimented Kelly.

Maria Persson-Gulda (77-75-152) shot par on the longest two holes of the first round, and birdied the third longest before retiring the first round with a 5-over 77. She shaved a pair of strokes off her second round score and goes into Wednesday's final round in 32nd place.

Jessica Ellis' first round 78 toward the team score helped boost the Buffs to sixth after the first round and couldn't overcome a round plagued with bogeys as the sophomore transfer carded a second round 84. Struggling with her swing, Charlotte Persson-Gulda, playing in just her second tournament of her freshman year carded an 89 after her first round, and improved four strokes on her second to turn in an 85.

Tomorrow's final round is the last of the fall schedule, and one that can give the Buffs some momentum going into the spring slate.

"The team's goal is to have a good, solid round. We'd love to have all five scores in the 70s. Hannah has a chance to win, and that would be a great way to end the fall season."

"A strong finish would make it a lot better to come back in the spring," added Hoch. "This is a great way to close out the fall. We really need a fourth score, but that's what we've needed all year. But we're in good shape."

KENT YOUEL INVITATIONAL

Kapolei Golf Course (Oahu, Hawai'i)

TEAM SCORES

1. UCLA....................... 283-285- 568

2. Arizona State............ 289-295- 584

3. Oregon.................... 290-302- 592

4. Oklahoma................. 293-300- 593

5. UC-Irvine................. 295-302- 597

6. COLORADO............ 299-304- 603

6. Boise State............... 308-295- 603

8. Oregon State............ 303-303- 606

9. CSU-Northridge........ 301-308- 609