Arizona State’s Booth Shares Lead in Desert

Coto de Caza’s Kellee Booth moved into a tie for the lead after three rounds of the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship Friday at La Quinta Resort Dunes Course.

Booth shot three-over-par 75 and moved even with Arizona’s Marisa Baena, who had a three-stroke lead after 36 holes.

Booth, a sophomore at Arizona State who graduated from Santa Margarita, is trying for her first victory in a college tournament.

“I had a feeling I was due to have a really good tournament,” Booth said. “I kind of struggled at the beginning of the spring and I’m trying to get things back together. Winning this tournament would be a great breakthrough for me.”

Booth birdied holes No. 7 and 8 and was even with Baena after nine holes. Baena, who had the only under-par round (70) of the tournament Wednesday, made the turn Friday four-over par.

The Pete Dye-designed course was made more difficult by weather conditions, which included light rain and gusts of wind estimated at 40 to 60 mph. The average round was nearly 81.

Arizona State is tied for third with Texas (937), one-shot behind Arizona and Stanford. Florida, UCLA and San Jose State are within four strokes of the lead.

Stanford’s Vicky Strada is three strokes behind Booth.

UCLA’S Eunice Choi, who graduated from Laguna Hills, is 14 shots off the pace and Alicia Allison, a Foothill graduate who attends Duke, is 16 back.