ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – On the day wind wreaked havoc on the field at the NCAA Division I Women’s Championship, Tiffany Joh smiled her way to seven birdies.
Joh ended up with a second-round 69 that kept NCAA title hopes alive for herself and her UCLA teammates. She was the only player to break 70 Wednesday and one of just three
players to break par; the 60 players who completed their round averaged
76.67 strokes.
Wind gusts in the mid-40s caused second-round play to be suspended twice, and called for the day three hours before sunset. Joh was tied for fourth at 1-under 143 when play was stopped with more than half the field
yet to complete its second round. UCLA shot 295 and is tied for the
lead with USC at 8-over 584.
Joh admitted she doesn’t see adverse conditions very often after growing up in Southern California. The team that posted the day’s low round, Denver, thrives in them.
The Pioneers posted a 6-over 294 to move into third place among teams that completed play, finishing the first two rounds at 11 over par.
Even Joh, who’s known for often understating her own ability, didn’t do the same when describing Wednesday’s “tornado business.”
“It’s a challenge,” she said. “It was not fun, especially for Dewi (Claire Schreefel of USC), because I was grabbing onto her all day to keep from getting blown away.”
Schreefel was stern-faced as she struggled with her putter and shot 78. Joh couldn’t help but laugh, especially as she said, “I can’t wait for this to be over,” to a volunteer on the 17th hole.
Joh then hammed it up for her small gallery, pretending to use the gallery ropes to pull herself to the tee as she walked into a strong headwind.
It was actually in the first round’s more docile conditions that Joh struggled with her emotions and her game, shooting 74 because of poor putting.
“(My putts) yesterday were all over the map,” Joh said. “I just tried to stay looser today.
“I knew I had to start well because the back nine wasn’t going to be pretty.”
After teeing off on No. 10, Joh made six birdies in the first nine holes to shoot 31. Joh shot 38 on her final nine holes after a double bogey on No. 1.
Joh, one of college golf’s more lighthearted personalities, used a couple interesting tactics to keep loose and play the final eight holes even par in some of the day’s toughest conditions.
“I’m on a first-name basis with the wind,” Joh joked. “I named her ‘Patty.’
“You only spend, what, 15 minutes hitting shots, so I think you have to just keep your mind off of it and kind of talk to yourself a little bit or sing Disney tunes.”
Wednesday’s weather could make conditions at next week’s Curtis Cup at St. Andrews look simple. But they weren’t the toughest she’s faced.
“When I was a freshman, we had a qualifier where balls were rolling all over the green,” Joh said. “When I pointed it out to coach, she just stepped on my ball and said, ‘Now you can play it.’ I think for nine holes I shot 54. Jane (Park) eagled the last hole for 53, so it went pretty well.”
Denver’s Katie Kempter, an Albuquerque native, called Wednesday “a typical May day” for her hometown. Kempter and her teammates usually play golf as long as there isn't snow on the ground, so they're used to tough conditions.
Pioneers coach Sammie Chergo said that wasn’t the only reason three of her players shot 73 or better.
“Every player on our team comes from a golf background, but an athletic background, too,” Chergo said. “These kids are great competitors, have a lot of toughmindedness, and when the conditions get tough and there is some pressure, they rise to the occassion and enjoy it.”
As many players and coaches complained about the conditions and the controversial decision to stop play, those who could suffer with a smile found the most success.
Posted: 5/21/2008
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