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By DAN MIROCHA
Assistant Editor

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Just before the Pac-10 Championship, UCLA went on a hike through the hills above its campus. Twenty minutes into the Bruins’ trek, players and coaches arrived at an area that overlooked the city. They snapped pictures and shared some laughs, all in the name of team bonding. They hoped it would lead to postseason climbing.

“I don’t know if something like that would have happened last year,” sophomore Tiffany Joh said. “Last year, coming into nationals we kind of got into a lackadaisical attitude and it showed. We were lazy. Our games were sloppy. This year, everything’s tightened up.”

The refocused Bruins are showing off a new look and attitude at this year’s NCAA Women’s Championship. After two rounds at LPGA International, UCLA is in second place at 18-over 594, seven shots behind two-time defending champion Duke.

A year ago, it was a position the Bruins should have been in, but never came close to.

With All-Americans Amie Cochran and Jane Park, UCLA was forecasted on everyone’s 2006 national championship radar. The Bruins set a school scoring record in a fall victory. In the spring, they beat Duke, USC and Arizona State at an event in Mexico, then won their third consecutive Pac-10 title. But after placing second at the West Regional, the Bruins came unglued at the Scarlet Course at Ohio State University Golf Club where they finished 11th, 40 shots out of a national championship.

“There was so much talent last year and we just cruised on it,” UCLA coach Carrie Forsyth said. “And this year, because of the circumstances, there’s no cruising. This is a better team.”

Or as the gregarious Joh puts it, “...we don’t have a superstar on our team this year. It’s really nice to have everyone on the same page instead of two or three divas like last year.”

The word ‘divas’ may rub some the wrong way, but Joh’s feelings about Cochran and Park – both of whom turned pro – couldn’t be more positive. In fact, Joh says Cochran and Park were her best friends on last year’s team and misses having them around. She still talks to the two regularly, tracking their progress as they break into the professional ranks.

But as far team cohesion, the Bruins are better off now.

“It would have been great to have them here, but honestly, I don’t think our work ethic would be as good as it is now,” Joh said.

Instead of resting on their talent and blowing off non-mandatory practice days like last year, the Bruins have spent 2007’s off days on the range and on the putting green. When there’s no star, everyone is expected to contribute. That was especially true during the fall when every putt counted – literally. The Bruins basically played as a four-woman team, with inexperienced walk-on freshman Lalita Boonnoppornkul in the fifth spot. Junior Maiya Tanaka, who had been attending UCLA but not as a member of the golf team, joined the Bruins’ squad in the spring.

“We’ve had to make some adjustments,” Forsyth said. “But honestly, the more I think, ‘what if (we had Park and Cochran)?’ the more I think we’d be playing worse ... The chemistry now as a team is really good.”

After a first round where UCLA made just one birdie collectively, it bounced back with 12 on Wednesday. Joh made three birdies and had a three-putt bogey for a 70, while sophomore Ryann O’Toole made four birdies in a 71 after an opening 78. Hannah Jun followed 18 consecutive pars on Tuesday with a score of 74 today, and freshman Sydnee Michaels, the East Regional’s medalist, says she’s due for a good round after posting scores of 77-76.

“The course plays so different than it did in the fall (at the Preview),” Jun said. “Then it was like a birdie fest. Now par is a good score. The girls are just grinding it out right now, good or bad.”

Purdue sophomore Christel Boeljon birdied three of her final four holes to take the individual lead Wednesday, shooting 69 for a 3-under 141 total. Boeljon, of the Netherlands, is No. 30 in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings. Arkansas junior Stacy Lewis birdied her final hole for a second consecutive 71, which placed her alone in second.

Duke’s Amanda Blumenherst, who shot 73, is tied for third with Joh and TCU’s Catherina Matranga at 1-under 143.

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Click here to see who made the photo slide show with highlights from the second round.

Click here to check out the photo slide show with audio of Denver's Emily Hoeper.

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Duke’s Anna Grzebien went ten shots better Wednesday – from 80 to 70 – while Jennie Lee and Alison Whitaker pitched in with 72s for the Blue Devils, who are maintaining an easy-going attitude and went to the beach following the round.

“It’s sort of boring, but there really isn’t much to talk about,” Duke coach Dan Brooks said. “We go out and do what we do.”

While the Bruins are keeping a laid-back demeanor as well, focus remains on the task at hand. The days of high expectations and little effort are gone. Funny what the loss of two stellar individuals can do to the quality of a team as a whole.

“Last year, we were stud-filled,” Jun said. “Our lineup on paper was by far the greatest and we didn’t even get top 10 (at nationals). But the past is the past. This is the biggest week of the year.”

• • •

Dan Mirocha is a Golfweek assistant editor. To reach him e-mail dmirocha@golfweek.com.

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Scores with relation to par from the second round of the NCAA Women's Champoinship, played May 23 at the par-72, 6,351-yard LPGA International (Legends) in Daytona Beach, Fla. (Note: y-played as an individual):

TEAMS
1. Duke	300-287--587		+	11
2. UCLA	303-291--594		+	18
3. Purdue	303-294--597		+	21
4. Stanford	299-300--599		+	23
5. USC	295-306--601		+	25
6. Georgia	303-299--602		+	26
7. Louisville	297-306--603		+	27
8. Pepperdine	306-299--605		+	29
8. Vanderbilt	303-302--605		+	29
8. Arizona State	307-298--605		+	29
11. TCU	307-299--606		+	30
11. Wake Forest	306-300--606		+	30
13. Oklahoma State	312-299--611		+	35
14. Auburn	309-304--613		+	37
15. BYU	309-306--615		+	39
16. Michigan State	310-307--617		+	41
16. UC Irvine	303-314--617		+	41
18. North Carolina	297-321--618		+	42
18. Arizona	304-314--618		+	42
20. New Mexico	305-314--619		+	43
21. Tennessee	311-313--624		+	48
22. Denver	302-324--626		+	50
23. Alabama	314-319--633		+	57
24. Indiana	320-318--638		+	62
• • •
INDIVIDUALS
1. Christel Boeljon, Purdue	72-69--141			-3
2. y-Stacy Lewis, Arkansas	71-71--142			-2
3. Amanda Blumenherst, Duke	70-73--143			-1
3. Tiffany Joh, UCLA	73-70--143			-1
3. Catherine Matranga, TCU	72-71--143			-1
6. Jacqui Concolino, Vanderbilt	75-69--144			E
6. Lauren Todd, Stanford	70-74--144			E
8. Paola Moreno, USC	73-72--145		+	1
8. Anna Nordqvist, Arizona State	75-70--145		+	1
10. Jennie Lee, Duke	76-72--148		+	4
10. Taylor Leon, Georgia	74-74--148		+	4
10. Rachel Newren, BYU	77-71--148		+	4
10. y-Caroline Westrup, Florida State	74-74--148		+	4
14. Jenny Calkins, Louisville	74-75--149		+	5
14. Misun Cho, Pepperdine	75-74--149		+	5
14. Selanee' Henderson, UC Irvine	69-80--149		+	5
14. Hannah Jun, UCLA	75-74--149		+	5
14. Karin Kinnerud, Oklahoma State	75-74--149		+	5
14. Ryann O'Toole, UCLA	78-71--149		+	5
14. J. Tangtiphaiboontana, Stanford	77-72--149		+	5
14. Alison Whitaker, Duke	77-72--149		+	5
14. Camille Williams, Louisville	73-76--149		+	5
23. Jean Chua, Wake Forest	76-74--150		+	6
23. Anna Grzebien, Duke	80-70--150		+	6
23. Mandi McConnell, Michigan State	74-76--150		+	6
23. Rachel Meikle, Michigan State	77-73--150		+	6
23. Angela Oh, Tennessee	74-76--150		+	6
23. Jennifer Pandolfi, Duke	77-73--150		+	6
23. Kate Thomas, North Carolina	74-76--150		+	6
23. Whitney Wade, Georgia	76-74--150		+	6
31. Mandy Goins, Wake Forest	76-75--151		+	7
31. Nannette Hill, Wake Forest	75-76--151		+	7
31. Candace Schepperle, Auburn	79-72--151		+	7
31. Kristen Svicarovich, Vanderbilt	76-75--151		+	7
31. Amanda Wilson, Arizona	73-78--151		+	7
36. Leanne Bowditch, Pepperdine	78-74--152		+	8
36. Myrte Eikenaar, Purdue	79-73--152		+	8
36. Stefanie Endstrasser, Purdue	77-75--152		+	8
36. Jodi Ewart, New Mexico	76-76--152		+	8
36. Veronica Felibert, USC	71-81--152		+	8
36. Maria Hernandez, Purdue	75-77--152		+	8
36. Lauren Hunt, North Carolina	74-78--152		+	8
36. y-Pamela Ontiveros, Oral Roberts	77-75--152		+	8
36. Jennifer Osborn, Arizona State	78-74--152		+	8
36. Daphne Vines, BYU	75-77--152		+	8
36. Adrienne White, Louisville	75-77--152		+	8
36. Adriana Zwanck, Arizona	75-77--152		+	8
48. Sarah Bradley, Oklahoma State	80-73--153		+	9
48. Cindy LaCrosse, Louisville	75-78--153		+	9
48. Catalina Marin, USC	77-76--153		+	9
48. Sydnee Michaels, UCLA	77-76--153		+	9
48. Margaret Shirley, Auburn	77-76--153		+	9
48. Eileen Vargas, Pepperdine	76-77--153		+	9
48. Catherina Wang, Stanford	76-77--153		+	9
55. Mari Chun, Stanford	76-78--154		+	10
55. Laura Crawford, Wake Forest	79-75--154		+	10
55. Marisa Milligan, Auburn	75-79--154		+	10
55. Azahara Munoz, Arizona State	78-76--154		+	10
55. Juliana Murcia, Arizona State	76-78--154		+	10
55. Garrett Phillips, Georgia	78-76--154		+	10
55. Dewi Schreefel, USC	76-78--154		+	10
55. Marci Turner, Tennessee	77-77--154		+	10
63. Camille Blackerby, TCU	76-79--155		+	11
63. Chris Brady, Vanderbilt	75-80--155		+	11
63. Patty Chawalitmetha, UC Irvine	76-79--155		+	11
63. Giselle Claux, New Mexico	74-81--155		+	11
63. Elin Emanuelsson, TCU	78-77--155		+	11
63. Nicole Hage, Auburn	78-77--155		+	11
63. Emily Hoeper, Denver	72-83--155		+	11
63. Alina Lee, Georgia	80-75--155		+	11
63. Pernilla Lindberg, Oklahoma State	77-78--155		+	11
63. Belen Mozo, USC	75-80--155		+	11
63. Alexandra Phelps, New Mexico	78-77--155		+	11
74. Ashley Childers, BYU	78-78--156		+	12
74. Sara Djos, Denver	77-79--156		+	12
74. y-Kay Hoey, Long Beach State	79-77--156		+	12
74. Kim Lorenzana, UC Irvine	79-77--156		+	12
74. Jenny Suh, Alabama	77-79--156		+	12
79. Sydney Crane, North Carolina	74-83--157		+	13
79. Mallory Hetzel, Georgia	75-82--157		+	13
79. Mary Jacobs, Arizona	79-78--157		+	13
79. Amanda Johnson, Oklahoma State	80-77--157		+	13
79. Angela King, Stanford	80-77--157		+	13
79. Liebelei Lawrence, Vanderbilt	77-80--157		+	13
79. Heather Rose, Michigan State	81-76--157		+	13
79. Mallorie Underwood, Okla. State	82-75--157		+	13
87. Py Bengtsson, New Mexico	77-81--158		+	14
87. Brooke Goodwin, Vanderbilt	80-78--158		+	14
87. Rhea Nair, Alabama	75-83--158		+	14
87. y-Kelly Nakashima, Idaho	80-78--158		+	14
87. Megan O'Donnell, TCU	81-77--158		+	14
87. Maiya Tanaka, UCLA	79-79--158		+	14
87. Alison Walshe, Arizona	77-81--158		+	14
94. Kellye Belcher, Indiana	84-75--159		+	15
94. Helena Blomberg, Alabama	81-78--159		+	15
94. Juli Erekson, BYU	79-80--159		+	15
94. Elaine Harris, Indiana	80-79--159		+	15
98. Sara Brown, Michigan State	78-82--160		+	16
98. Diana Cantu, Tennessee	79-81--160		+	16
98. Valentine Derrey, TCU	86-74--160		+	16
98. Anita Gahir, Indiana	81-79--160		+	16
98. Nicole Smith, Tennessee	81-79--160		+	16
103. Jane Chin, UC Irvine	83-78--161		+	17
103. Katie Kempter, Denver	83-78--161		+	17
103. Dawn Shockley, Denver	77-84--161		+	17
103. Danielle von Arnim, BYU	79-82--161		+	17
107. Ann Laney, North Carolina	78-84--162		+	18
107. Katie Miller, North Carolina	75-87--162		+	18
107. Nicole Montgomery, Pepperdine	77-85--162		+	18
107. Abigale Schepperle, Auburn	82-80--162		+	18
111. Mikaela Backstedt, New Mexico	83-80--163		+	19
111. Henna Cho, UC Irvine	79-84--163		+	19
111. Laura Goodwin, Alabama	81-82--163		+	19
111. y-Lene Krog, East Carolina	84-79--163		+	19
115. Holly Cantwell, Tennessee	82-82--164		+	20
115. Laura Nochta, Indiana	79-85--164		+	20
117. Lauren Harling, Indiana	80-85--165		+	21
118. Cristina Gonzalez, Louisville	84-82--166		+	22
118. Sarah Sturm, Alabama	86-80--166		+	22
120. Lindsay Anderson, Arizona State	83-84--167		+	23
120. Brittany Benvenuto, Arizona	82-85--167		+	23
120. Holly Niederkohr, Michigan State	84-83--167		+	23
120. Stephanie Oukeo, Purdue	83-84--167		+	23
120. Maggie Simons, Wake Forest	87-80--167		+	23
WD. Jayvie Agojo, Pepperdine	WD-74
WD. Stephanie Sherlock, Denver	76-WD

Posted: 5/23/2007

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