Rocky Point to host the 2009 Wildcat Invitational
Puerto Peñasco will host the women’s amateur golf tournament for US universities
 Puerto
Peñasco, Sonora, Fl; February 18th, 2009— Puerto Peñasco, also known as
“Rocky Point,” is excited to host the women’s amateur golf tournament
for US universities, this weekend, February 20th through the 24, 2009.
This will be the first time in history that
this important event is held outside of the United States. The Peninsula
Golf Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, will welcome the “Arizona Wild
Cat Invitational” which traditionally has been held in Tucson, AZ for
the past 20 years.
The tournament will welcome 90 young golf
amateurs who hope to compete in the 24th Ladies Professional Golfers
Association (LPGA).
This event, unique in the history of golf in Mexico, will gather
18 of the best female college golf teams from prestigious universities
across the U.S including UCLA, New Mexico, Nevada, Stanford, Duke,
Washington and Arizona among others.
"We are very excited that the Peninsula Golf Club has agreed to
host the 2009 Wildcat Invitational," said head coach Shelly Haywood from
the University of Arizona and former professional golfer. "I am
overwhelmed with the enthusiasm and excitement I have seen here today."
She also highlighted that Puerto Peñasco was selected given its
tremendous hospitality and the affection she and her country women have
for this beautiful beach destination.
“The opportunities the golf market represents for Puerto Peñasco
are endless. Golf is among the top sports followed by Americans and
Puerto Peñasco has state of the art facilities to tailor to the most
discerning players” said Epifanio Salido Pavlovich, State Coordinator
for the Promotion of Tourism.
The 2009 Invitational is a 54-hole event contested over three days playing to a par 72, 6,345 yard layout.
Ten of the 1B teams in the field are ranked in the top 25 of
the November 5 Golfweek Sagarin Performance Index ratings, including the
top three teams in the nation. The field includes (ranking): Arizona
State (1), UCLA (2), USC (3), California (1B), Duke (B), New Mexico
(34), New Mexico State (BB), Pepperdine (11), Stanford (19), Denver
(15), Oklahoma State (6), Tennessee (4B), Tennessee-Chattanooga
(40),Tulsa (57), Tulane (61), UNLV (36), Washington (33) and host
Arizona (24).
The event will include a Golf Clinic to the children of Puerto
Peñasco, given by some of the top players from Arizona, Arizona State
and New Mexico among others. The clinic, being held on Saturday February
21st prior to the competition, is targeted for children ages 8-12 and
will prize those kids with good grades. Nike is also donating equipment,
apparel and golf balls to these special children.
The Peninsula golf course opened in 2006 and
is the nearest ocean side golf course to Arizona, only 3.5 hours drive
from Phoenix and Tucson. A product of the unbeatable creativity of Jack
Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus II, the 18 hole par 72 course plays from
5,300 to 7,100 yards in length with splendid fairways and abounds with
native desert vegetation. It is a uniquely challenging course that is
completely surrounded by water. Almost every hole has a marvelous
wind-swept view of the Sea of Cortes or the natural estuary.
FEBRUARY 22-24, 2009 PAR 72, 6,146 YDS
Opening Ceremony - Saturday, February 21
The University of Arizona hosted an opening ceremony for
players and the children of Puerto Penasco with a clinic and shot-making
demonstration. U of A coach Shelly Haywood, Mayan Palace General
Manager, Sr. M. Alcocer, and Peninsula De Cortes Director of Golf,
Andrew Gilchrist announced a donation of junior golf equipment through
the courtesy of Nike for the children.
One player from each of the seventeen teams participated in the
demonstration, highlighted by a golf ball juggling contest among ten
players who thrilled the audience of 200 with their talents and
clowning.
Then, all the children received either golf clubs or a gift package.
First Round Results- Sunday, February 22
Temperature 65 degrees, winds west at 14 mph. UCLA vaulted
into a quick eight stroke lead with a one-under par, four player total
of 287. Arizona State sits in second place with 295, followed by Denver
at 296 and two teams at 299, Oklahoma State and Tulane. Juliana Murcia
took the first round lead with a five under par 67, the competitive
course record on the Jack Nicklaus Signature Peninsula De Cortes course.
Closely following are UCLA’s Stephanie Kono and Cal’s Pia Halbig with
three under par 69’s.
Other players returning scores under par were Glory Yang of UCLA
and Linn Gustafsson of Tulane with 71’s. New Mexico’s Jodi Ewart,
Tulane’s Ashley McKenney (Scottsdale) and Maria Jose Uribe finished with
even par 72’s.
Second Round Results - Monday, February 23
UCLA retained it’s first round lead by posting a two day
total of 582, but their 7-over par 295 second day allowed Ariziona State
to close to three strokes at 285 thanks to a two-over par total of 290
in the second round.
USC closed to seven strokes with a one-under par 287, followed
by Pepperdine with a three under 285-590 total. Oklahoma State stands at
592 and Tennessee at 596 still within striking distance.
Best rounds today were turned in by Nikki Koller of Arizona,
Carlotta Cignada with 3-under 69’s; Jayvic Agojo and Lisa McCloskey,
both of Pepperdine had 70’s, while 71’s belonged to Jennifer Osborn of
ASU, Kim Donovan of Duke, Caroline Masson of Oklahoma State, and both
Lizette Salas and Belen Mozo of Southern Cal.
Juliana Murcia of ASU, the first day leader, now stands at
2-under 142, tied with Pia Halbig of Cal for the lead. One stroke behind
at 143 are Carlota Cignada of ASU, Jodi Ewart of New Mixico, and
Stephanie Kono of USLA. Caroline Hedwall of Oklahoma State and Lizette
Salas of USC are at even par 144.
Tuesday’s final round will begin play at 8:00am. FEBRUARY 22-24, 2009 PAR 72, 6,146 YDS
About Rocky Point
Puerto Peñasco, also referred to
as Rocky Point, is located in the State of Sonora in Mexico- 66 miles
from the U.S. border (at Lukeville, Arizona) and on the Sea of Cortez.
Rocky Point is a scenic 4-hour drive from Phoenix and Tucson, AZ. Rocky
Point started as a fishing village in the 1930's and gradually developed
into one of the major shrimp producing areas in the Sea of Cortez.
Rocky Point offers a variety of activities
from parasailing to deep sea fishing to shopping and Pinacate Tours and
has an abundance of vacation rentals both on and off the beach. It
recently welcomed a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course (located at
Laguna del Mar) as well as the Mayan Palace Resort and Las Palomas Beach
& Golf Resort.
For more information, visit www.cometorockypoint.com and http://www.gotosonora.com
About the Mexico Tourism Board
The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources
of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies
to promote Mexico ’s tourism attractions and destinations
internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexico’s
tourism promotion agency, and its participants include
members of both the private and
public sectors. The MTB has offices
throughout North
America, Europe, Japan
and Latin America. For more information on
destinations and online trip bookings please go to www.visitmexico.com.
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