Texas Tech University Athletics
Dominguez, Kaufman Set for National Title Run in Tennessee
May 21, 2012 | Women's Golf
May 21, 2012
Live Scoring | 2011-12 Statistics | NCAA Central | Vanderbilt Legends Club
LUBBOCK, Texas - Gabby Dominguez and Kim Kaufman begin their chase for an individual national title Tuesday as the Texas Tech juniors tee off at the NCAA Championships held at the Vanderbilt Legends Golf Course in Franklin, Tenn.
The two Lady Raiders, who qualified as individuals at the NCAA West Regional just over a week ago, will be among the first players on the course Tuesday as Kaufman opens the four-day, 72-hole tournament with an 8:25 a.m. tee time from the first hole. Dominguez follows three minutes later from the No. 10 tee.
"I know both Gabby and Kim have been looking forward to this week since regionals wrapped up," Tech head coach JoJo Robertson said. "They both have had strong seasons and led us as a team for most of the year. Hopefully they can put together four good rounds and be in contention on the final day."
The pair, which almost led Tech to the national tournament as a team, will challenge four other individuals along with the participants from the 24 advancing teams as a total of 126 student-athletes will compete to become the nation's best.
Kaufman finished tied for eighth at the West Regional after a three-round 1-over score of 217 put her as the highest-ranked individual not part of an advancing team. Dominguez, meanwhile, had to endure a sudden-death playoff to advance after she wrapped the 54-hole event with a 219 score that tied for 14th overall.
This is the first career appearance at the NCAA Championships for both players and the first for a Tech women's golfer since Rosalyn Kim did so in 2010.
Dominguez enters the tournament percentage points below Kaufman for the team's lowest stroke average as she is averaging 72.8 per round. Kaufman, on the other hand, boasts a 73.1 average that is also a full stroke below Dominguez' 2009-10 school record of 74.7.
Kaufman began this week's festivities by earning the NCAA Elite '89 award that is presented annually at the NCAA Championships to the player with the highest grade-point average. The award marks the second for Kaufman so far this year as she was one of three conference golfers honored on the Academic All-Big 12 first team with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Live scoring will be available throughout the tournament at www.golfstat.com with results posted each day on TexasTech.com.
Players Mentioned
