Chang's Low Round Puts Cats in Top 10

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – After battling the high winds of the day that saw only three teams in the field of 24 break par, No. 22 Arizona Women's Golf posted a 10-over score on Saturday to solidify its top-10 position at the NCAA Championships. Junior Ya Chun Chang shot a blistering 3-under after the turn to finish the day 2-under par. Chang sits a stroke below par after the first two rounds and enters Sunday's third round in the top five of the individual leaderboards.

"I was extremely proud of how our team fought through the entire round," said head coach Laura Ianello. "The afternoon winds really challenged all of the teams and made for some difficult rounds, but our team never gave into the conditions. Ya Chun had a terrific round of 70 and made some impressive shots throughout the day. I feel really good about being in the top 10 after battling for two rounds, and I believe we will continue to hang tough with the rest of the teams near the top of the leaderboards."

Chang's 70 for the second round was capped by a short birdie putt on the par-5, 18th hole that saw the junior hit an approach shot from over 150 yards away in the fairway to within two feet. She finished Saturday's round with six pars and three birdies on the back nine.

Arizona finished on a high note by carding two additional birdies on the final hole with Vivian Hou and Therese Warner also burying birdie putts. The 18th hole was one of five holes that the Wildcats played bogey free on the back nine as the afternoon winds peaked.

The Wildcats will begin the third round of stroke play at 7:36 a.m. (MST) on the 10th hole on Sunday in a tie for ninth place at 14-over par. The top 15 teams following Sunday's round will advance to the fourth and final round of stroke play on Monday. The top eight teams from the four round of stroke play will advance to match play beginning on Tuesday.