Second-Round Results

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. " The Pepperdine women's golf team has strengthened its hold on an NCAA Championship bid, playing a strong second round at the NCAA Albuquerque Regional on Tuesday that has put the Waves into second place.

The Waves, who were the ninth seed, must finish in the top six to advance and right now they have a 13-shot cushion over seventh place. That margin was 10 after the first round but grew three strokes thanks to a 2-over 290.

Pepperdine was the first-round leader but was jumped by top-ranked Stanford. The Waves have a two-day total of a 1-over 577 (287-290) at the par-72 UNM Championship Course, four shots back of the Cardinal. Pepperdine is three strokes ahead of third-place and sixth-ranked USC. Sitting in seventh place is Oklahoma State at 590.

The third and final round is Wednesday and the Waves will once again be paired with Stanford and USC. They will begin on the first tee at 8:09 a.m. PT.

"I'm very proud of our players, they showed great character under pressure today," Pepperdine Coach Laurie Gibbs said. "We look forward to playing well tomorrow and accomplishing our goal of competing at the NCAA Championships."

Three Waves shot even-par 72s on Tuesday to keep the squad in good standing. Junior Tatiana Wijaya (Jakarta, Indonesia), sophomore Patricia Wong (Walnut, Calif./Walnut HS) and freshman Momoka Kobori (Rangiora, New Zealand) are all in the top 20.

Wijaya is tied for fourth place with a 2-under 142 (70-72). She was 2-over after five holes but was flawless the rest of the way and picked up birdies on nine and 13.

Wong is tied for 10th place with an even-par 144 (72-72). She was at 3-over after 14 holes but had an eagle on the par-4 15th hole and followed it with a birdie on 16.

Kobori is tied for 13th place with a 1-over 145 (73-72). She began and ended her day with birdies on 1 and 18.

Sophomore Hira Naveed (Perth, Australia) is tied for 31st place at 148 (72-76) and junior Katherine Zhu (Vancouver, B.C.) is tied for 60th at 153 (79-74).

Pepperdine is playing in its 19th consecutive NCAA Regional. The Waves have advanced to the NCAA Championships 11 times, the last one coming in 2012.

The NCAA Championships are May 19-24 at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois.

Team Standings: 1. Stanford 290-283=573; 2. Pepperdine 287-290=577; 3. USC 295-285=580; 4. Duke 297-288=585; 5. California 295-291=586; 6. Washington 295-291=587; 7. Oklahoma State 304-286=590; 8. Miami 303-288=591; 9. Illinois 306-287=593; T10. Campbell 297-298=595; T10. North Carolina State 301-294=595; 12. SMU 302-301=603; 13. New Mexico State 307-297=604; 14. Denver 305-300=605; 15. Sacramento State 310-298=608; 16. Cal Poly 308-312=620; 17. Houston Baptist 314-310=624; 18. Texas Southern 365-350=715.

Individual Leaders: 1. Albane Valenzuela (Stanford) 71-69=140; T2. Julianne Alvarez (Washington) 72-69=141; T2. Martina Edberg (Cal State Fullerton) 73-68=141; T4. Tatiana Wijaya (Pepperdine) 70-72=142; T4. Laura Kowohl (North Carolina State) 69-73=142; T4. Bianca Pagdanganan (Gonzaga) 73-69=142.

Other Pepperdine Scores: T10. Patricia Wong 72-72=144; T13. Momoka Kobori 73-72=145; T31. Hira Naveed 72-76=148; T60. Katherine Zhu 79-74=153.