Tubert on to NCAA championship
BURBANK — Emily Tubert is surely getting the most out of her freshman college season.
Tubert, a Burroughs High graduate and true freshman at the University of Arkansas, has had a first season with the Razorbacks’ women’s golf team filled with success. And in turn, Arkansas has benefitted from the play of the former All-Area player of the year.
“I’ve loved every minute of this season,” Tubert said. “It has just been amazing and a truly great experience. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but at this school, with this team.”
The season for Tubert — and Arkansas — hasn’t come to a close yet, as the team has earned a spot to compete for a national title. After a fine showing last weekend in the 2011 NCAA Central Regional Championship, the Razorbacks earned the program’s fourth trip to the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championships.
The championships will be conducted May 18-21, at the Traditions Club in Bryan, Texas. Texas A&M University is hosting the 72-hole championship.
Arkansas will be among 24 teams taking part in the tournament.
“I’m really happy that we were able to make it to the [championship] as a team,” Tubert said. “I’m feeling really good about where the team is at right now, and I’m feeling pretty good about my game.”
The 11th-ranked Razorbacks rallied in the final round of the NCAA Central Regional Championship on Saturday with a fourth-place finish to earn a bid to the final tournament. Arkansas carded a tournament best 289 in the final round, finishing with an 899 for the event.
Arkansas was able to rebound after suffering through a rough start in the first round Thursday.
“This has been a great championship golf course, and after the first day we were kind of behind the eight ball a bit,” Arkansas Coach Shauna Estes-Taylor told the university’s website. “But this group has persevered all year long, and I actually had a calm in knowing that this would be our day.
“The team went out and did exactly what they needed to do in probably some of the most stressful golf conditions you could have, trying to get in the national championship. I am so proud of this group, we have done it as a team all year long, and we look forward to heading to College Station for the NCAA Championships and a [shot at a] title.”
Tubert came off the course tied for second shooting 219 for the weekend on the Warren Golf Course in South Bend, Ind. Tubert shot 75-69-75 and was the leader after the second round and finished tied for third.
Tubert also started out slowly in the first round, but came roaring back in the second round Friday. Tubert posted the lowest round of the tournament, shooting a 69 and vaulting up the leaderboard. She was three-under on the day and moved from a tie for 26th after her first round into the lead after Saturday’s play.
“I also struggled a little on the first two holes [on Saturday],” Tubert said. “But than I really started shooting well. After I got going I had a feeling it would be a special round.”
Said Estes-Taylor: “Emily is hitting it so solidly and if she could just get the right read on her putts she could go as low as she wants to. She is managing her game well and I think having played her in the past is helpful. She did a good job of getting around this golf course [Saturday].”