Buffs Maintain Second Position At Red Sky Classic

WOLCOTT, Colo. — Lauren Gooding has found a second home.
 
Last year, the London native made a splash at Red Sky, shooting 68 in her University of Colorado debut. On Tuesday, she returned the scene, and did it one better.
 
Gooding shot a career-best 67 in the second round of the Golfweek Red Sky Classic to help the Buffaloes maintain second place after 36 holes at the Red Sky Golf Club on Tuesday.
 
Gooding's effort tied for the day's low round in the entire field. She leaped over 49 golfers to move into a tie for seventh place overall at 2-under-par, 142.
 
Colorado, which entered Tuesday tied for second with Fresno State, ended the day in sole possession of that spot after shooting even-par to remain at 1-under (575) for the tournament.
 
Pepperdine holds an 11-shot lead (564) over the Buffaloes after an impressive 9-under second round. Kennesaw State and Fresno State are tied for third at 5-over, 581.
 
After a somewhat disappointing 75 on Monday, Gooding was on from the start in the second round. She birdied back-to-back par 4s at No. 3 and No. 4 to quickly get to 2-under. She added a third birdie at the par 4 No. 8 to sit at 3-under at the turn.
 
"Yesterday, I hit the ball pretty good, I just had two bad holes that killed my scorecard," Gooding said. "So I just tried to think about how close I was to a good score and was just a bit unlucky and today I carried on, hitting good shots when I needed to and gave myself a lot of chances for birdie, which is important on this golf course."
 
A bogey at No. 11 set her back to 2-under, but on the 372-yard par 4 No. 14, Gooding bounced in a 115-yard second shot for her first eagle of the year.
 
"The pin was right in front and once I hit it I just said 'be good'," Gooding said. "It took one bounce pretty close to the hole and went right in. That was a pretty fun shot to watch and it was a good place in my round because I had the bogey a few holes before, so I was excited about it."
 
She ended her round in style with a birdie on the par 5 No. 18.
 
"She really does like this course," Colorado head coach Anne Kelly said. "She played well here last year, and I think didn't feel really settled about how she was hitting the ball in the practice round. But she really found her game today for sure."
 
The 510-yard No. 18 was kind to the Buffs. All five Colorado golfers shot birdie or better on the final hole. Haylin Harris and Morgan Miller made eagles, both utilizing great second shots onto the green within 3-4 feet of the hole and sinking their putts.
 
"They played that last hole like Tour pros," Kelly said.
 
Miller shot even-par in the second round to maintain the Buffaloes' team lead at 3-under, 141, and heads into the final round tied for fifth, just three shots off the lead. She was at 3-over after 14, but birdied the par-5 15 and then got back to even with her eagle at 18.
 
 Harris is tied for 13th overall at 1-over, 75. She was 6-over entering the final two holes, but rallied with a birdie on the par-3, No. 17, before sinking her eagle at 18.
 
Sophomore Natalie Vo shot 2-over, 74, to move up into a tie for 21st overall at 3-over, 147. Freshman Makenzie Cooper is tied for 78th at 13 over, 157.
 
Pepperdine's Lauren Gomez is the leader after two rounds at 6-under. Her teammate, Lion Higo, is second, one shot back at 5-under.
 
Wednesday's final round will feature a shotgun start at 9:15 a.m. The Buffaloes will start on tees 1-4 and will pair with Pepperdine, Kennesaw State and Fresno State.