Tubert makes cut in debut
Last week was a good week for golfer Emily Tubert.
Not only did the Burroughs High graduate make the cut in her first LPGA event, but she was also selected to the 2011-12 Golf World’s list of players to watch.
Tubert received a sponsor’s exemption for the Walmart NW Arkansas LPGA Championship, which began Friday, and tested her skills against the world’s best players at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Ark. Tubert make the cut, and competed in the final round Sunday.
Tubert finished even over the three days, carded a three-round 213 with rounds of 74-68-71 on the par-71 course in her first professional tournament.
“I thought overall I played pretty solid,” Tubert said. “I had a couple of issues [Sunday], but to be even for the three days is awesome. My first goal was to make the cut and I would have liked to have gone one under today, but it was just great to be out there with the world’s best.”
Tubert’s round started on the 10th hole and got out to a rough start with a bogey on the first hole. She quickly made the stroke back up with a two on the par-three 11th hole after dropping her tee shot within six inches of the pin.
She would remain even through her third hole before moving to plus-one on the 13th hole. Tubert regrouped on the 14th hole and moved to one-under on the 15th with a two on the par-three island green hole. However, she would give the stroke back, moving to even on 18.
The second nine was an uneventful scorecard for Tubert, as she was even for the rest of the tournament.
As she readied to take part in the tournament, Tubert learned Wednesday that she had been honored by Golf World.
“This recognition is great for Emily and for our program,” Arkansas Coach Shauna Estes-Taylor told the university’s web site. “Emily is a talented player and her work ethic and desire to improve makes her a formidable competitor. I’m excited that her play is being noticed and I think this spot in the top five will spark Emily to continue to work hard.”
The rest of the Golf World list included Marta Silva Zamora (Georgia, senior); Sophia Popov (USC, sophomore); Austin Ernst (LSU, sophomore); Stephanie Kono (UCLA, senior); Erica Popson (Tennessee, junior); Stephanie Meadow (Alabama, sophomore); Lindy Duncan (Duke, junior); Brooke Pancake (Alabama, senior); and Tiffany Lua (UCLA, junior).
Tubert begins her second season of collegiate golf with the Razorbacks this year and was picked fifth on the list. As a freshman, she paced Arkansas to a program-best tie for fifth place at the NCAA Championship, earning first-team All-America honors.
Tubert was a rock for the Razorbacks, winning three events and posting nine top five-finishes in her first season of college golf. She earned Southeastern Conference first-team honors and was named SEC co-Freshman of the Year. Tubert led the country in birdies with 120 and shot a school-record 63 at the Las Vegas Showdown.
The Razorbacks open the 2011-12 season Sept. 23-25, at the NCAA Fall Preview in Franklin, Tenn., getting a sneak peak at this year’s NCAA Championship course. It is the first of four fall events for Tubert and the Razorbacks.