Buffs Keep Lead In Second Day Of Clover Cup

MESA, Ariz. – With senior Jenny Coleman leading the way, the University of Colorado women's golf team remains in first through two rounds at the Clover Cup.

Three Buffaloes sit in the top 20, helping Colorado hold onto its lead. Despite windy and drying conditions to end the day, the Buffs shot 9-over par 297 in the second round, holding a 13-over par 589 scorecard at the par 72, 6,209-yard Longbow Golf Club.

“About the last six holes it went from blowing maybe 8 miles per hour to about 25 or 30,” CU head coach Anne Kelly said. “Overall I think they handled the changing conditions pretty well.”

Colorado holds a narrow two stroke lead over second place Louisville. The 15-over par Cardinals jumped a spot with a 4-over par 292 performance in the second round. Host Notre Dame remains in third with a 19-over par 595 (299-292). At 22-over par 598, Michigan has dropped two spots to fourth place. East Carolina jumped three spots into the top five with a 25-over par 601.

Senior Jenny Coleman is the tournament's top individual, with a 5-under par 139. Coleman followed up her 3-under par 69 yesterday with a 2-under par 70 on Saturday. Though she had three bogeys, she remained under par with four birdies. Coleman has eased through the Nos. 7, 9 and 14 making birdies on those holes in both rounds. With eight total birdies in the tournament, Coleman continues to push her program record, with 298 birdies in her career.

“She probably didn't convert as many putts as she wanted to, but she definitely played a solid round of golf, that's for sure,” Kelly said.

Coleman said that working to get her full swing back to where it was before has been a big help to her improvement in the spring. She also said that her putting has been better this week.

“For both rounds, reasonably similar, just a lot of good full swing shots and chances at birdies, otherwise easier two-putt pars for the most part,” Coleman said. “Today when I missed the greens I could for the most part putt and line it up there pretty nicely.”

Though she had a more challenging second round, sophomore Alexis Keating continues her strong showing, currently tied for 11th. Keating holds a 3-over par 147 (71-76). The par-4 379-yard No. 6 still proved a challenge, with Keating bogeying on the hole in both rounds. She shot par or better on 13 holes.

“Alexis had a couple bad holes when the wind really picked up, but she kept it steady and 76 wasn't too bad of a round in the conditions they had to finish in,” Kelly said. “She kept it under control.”

Competing in her fourth collegiate tournament, freshman Natalie Vivaldi made the biggest jump for the Buffs in the second round. She moved up 15 spots to finish the day tied for 18th at 5-over par 149. Shooting over par on eight holes on Friday, Vivaldi showed great improvement in the second round, shooting par or better on 16 holes. Vivaldi made three birdies, including on the Nos. 9 and 12 on which she had previously bogeyed.

“I was really happy for Natalie Vivaldi,” Kelly said. “She had a 3-under most of the day. She didn't finish like she wanted to, but I think she definitely made a big step forward in her college progress.”

At 11-over par 155 (76-79), sophomore Jamie Oleksiew is tied for 47th. Oleksiew made two birdies, but also had two double bogeys, including one on the par-5 No. 9 that she had birdied on in the opening round. Senior Kristin Coleman is in 52nd with a 12-over par 156 (76-80). Coleman had a more challenging second round. Though she trimmed a stroke on Nos. 5 and 15, she bogeyed on two holes she had made birdies on in the first round.

“I know that Kristin (Coleman) and Jamie (Oleksiew) are really close,” Kelly said. “They just had a couple errant shots that got them in trouble in the desert. I'm very hopeful they'll play a good, solid round tomorrow.”

Competing as an individual, freshman Claudia Davis moved up two spots to 84th with a 25-over par 169.

Jenny Coleman holds a one stroke lead over two competitors tied for second. Michigan's Grace Choi and Notre Dame's Kristina Nhim are close behind with 4-under par 140s. Louisville's Emily Haas is the only other player under par, sitting in fourth place with a 1-under par 143. Michigan's Lauren Grogan and Kennesaw State's Kaew Premchuen both made jumps into the top 5 with 1-over par 145s.

With one more round to go, Colorado looks to hold onto its lead over the 15 team field. Sunday's play begins with an 8 a.m. shotgun start.

BUFFALOES INDIVIDUALS
1.	Jenny Coleman	69-70—139
t-11.	Alexis Keating	71-76—147
t-18.	Natalie Vivaldi	77-72—149
t-47.	Jamie Oleksiew	76-79—155
52.	Kristin Coleman	77-80—156

TOP 5 INDIVIDUALS
1.	Jenny Coleman	69-70—139
t-2.	Grace Choi, Michigan	69-71—140
t-2.	Kristina Nhim, Notre Dame	68-72—140
4.	Emily Haas, Louisville	71-72—143
t-5.	Lauren Grogan, Michigan	73-72—145
t-5.	Kaew Premchuen, Kennesaw St.	74-71—145

TEAM STANDINGS
1.	Colorado	292-297—589
2.	Louisville	299-292—591
3.	Nore Dame	299-296—595
4.	Michigan	298-300—598
5.	East Carolina	305-296—601
6.	Mississippi	304-298—602
7.	Kennesaw State	304-299—603
8.	UNLV	307-297—604
t-9.	Tulsa	306-304—610
t-9.	Maryland	310-300—610
t-9.	Nebraska	300-310—610
12.	Florida International	307-306—613
13.	St. John's	309-305—614
t-14.	New Mexico State	312-303—615
t-14.	Cincinnati	311-304—615

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Players Mentioned

Jenny Coleman

Kristin Coleman

Claudia Davis

Alexis Keating

Jamie Oleksiew

Natalie Vivaldi

Colorado University Athletics