OPELIKA, Alabama – Cal improved by four shots in the second round as they shot a 12-over 300 and sit in 12th place at the NCAA Auburn Regional. Cal notched a total of 12 birdies across the round at Saugahatchee Country Club.
 
"We started to get a feel for the course today," head coach Nancy McDaniel said. "It is a really strong course, but we started to make some birdies. I've been happy with our learning curve even though we're not having one of our better weeks. We've had multiple tournaments this year where we end with a really good round and that's what we're shooting for tomorrow.  I know that we can shoot an under par round, but that's definitely what it will take to put us in position to qualify for the NCAA Championships."
 
The Bears are being led by two freshmen as Katherine Zhu and Elena Arias are tied for 38th place. Arias has missed most of the spring due to injury, but has returned in time for the championship season. She played one of her better rounds on Tuesday morning, finishing two-over 74. Arias was solid throughout, even going one-under through 11 holes. She carded two birdies, both on par-five holes, as she was able to hit quality wedge shots to put herself in good positions.
 
Katherine Zhu dropped down the standings despite shooting a three-over 75, only one shot off her total from Monday. The San Jose native recorded three birdies on the day, discovering some momentum on the back nine. Zhu went one-under over the final nine and birded two of her final three holes. If she can make up some ground on the final day, she will record the ninth top-25 finish of her freshman campaign.
 
"Elena and Katherine are two really good people to have on a team, they're both very positive and confident in their game," McDaniel said. "They go about things in two entirely different ways; Elena is a feel player and Katherine is more calculated. They aren't having their best tournament, but they're energy is keeping things going in the right direction."
 
Maria Herraez Galvez sits in a tie for 51st as she shot a 76 on Tuesday. She is seven-over 151 over the two rounds. The Spaniard notched two birdies on the day, both over the final nine holes as she was one-under in the second half of the round.
 
Cindy Oh was one-under through 16 holes, but lost four strokes over the final two holes. The senior notched three birdies on the day, but that work was undone as she bogeyed the eighth hole and recorded a triple-bogey on the ninth hole (after starting on the tenth hole). Oh finished the day with a three-over 75 and is tied for 74th place. It has been a tough tournament for Marianne Li. The senior shot eight-over 80 in the second round and is in 93rd place through 36 holes.
 
Having never played the course before, Cal came in at a disadvantage compared to the large number of schools from the southeast that populate the Auburn Regional. Auburn, Alabama, Clemson, Duke and Florida State all played the course in March as part of the Evans Derby Experience. It has paid dividends as Duke, Florida State and Auburn are all amongst the top six teams and in a position to qualify for the NCAA Championship.
 
Cal will be back in action for the final round tomorrow at 8 a.m. CT/6 a.m. PT at Saugahatchee Country Club. Cal will tee off of the 10th hole alongside Alabama and Houston. The Bears will need to make up 15 shots and climb past six teams in order to earn a spot at the NCAA Championship.
 
TEAM
12. California, 304+300=604 (+28)
 
INDIVIDUAL
T38. Katherine Zhu, 74+75=149 (+5)
T38. Elena Arias, 75+74=149 (+5)
T51. Maria Herraez Galvez, 75+76=151 (+7)
T74. Cindy Oh, 80+75=155 (+11)
93. Marianne Li, 84+80=164 (+20)