Women's Golf Rallies Into 7th At Big 12 Golf

Tuesday, April 18

The Country Club of Lincoln, Lincoln, Neb.

All Day

Colorado

Round Two

Photo by: CUBuffs.com

April 18, 2006 | Women's Golf

By: Lindsay Lew, Associate SID

LINCOLN, Neb.?The University of Colorado women's golf team bounced back from a rough start on Monday with its best round ever at the Big 12 Tournament here Tuesday, shooting a 296 and moving three spots from 10th place to seventh place after two rounds of play.

Oklahoma State is the team leader after two rounds, shooting 301-291?592 (+3) to lead Texas A&M by seven strokes (302-297?599) and third place Missouri (313-287?600) by eight shots. CU shot 296 today, an 11-stroke improvement from the Monday score of 315, giving CU a total of 611. The Buffs are just 11 strokes out of third and only seven strokes from fourth place (Nebraska, 604).

Today's team score of 296 is ties CU's best in a tournament this season, and is the best ever in a conference championship, either Big 8 or Big 12. The previous low was a 302 in the second round of the 1999 Big 12 Championship, where the Buffs went on to finish ninth, the best for CU women's team. Kelly is hopeful that the Buffs can repeat today's performance on Wednesday and give CU its best ever finish at the conference tournament.

“Everybody played better today,” said head coach Anne Kelly. “The entire team was determined to come out and play better than yesterday, and I'm so pleased that they did that. They played with confidence and really improved on their round from yesterday and that's a big step forward for us. I am hoping for more of the same tomorrow.”

Texas A&M's Ashley Knoll continues to lead the medalist race as the only player with two under-par scores, a three-under 69 on Monday and a one-under 71 today (140). She leads Oklahoma State's Pernilla Lundberg and Iowa State's Jessica Shin by five strokes, who both have a total of 145.

As for Colorado individuals, it was senior Maria Persson-Gulda leading the way for the Buffaloes, posting a one-under par 71 to tie for 10th heading into the final round. CU teed off on No. 10 today, and after opening with back-to-back bogeys, Persson-Gulda rallied to birdie three of the next seven holes to close out her front nine at one-under. On the back, she opened No. 1 and No. 2 with birdies before succumbing to a bogey on No. 4. She made par on the next four holes before putting in a bogey on No. 9. It marks the first under-par round for the Swede since a 71 in the first round of the Heather Farr Memorial on Oct. 3, and it could not have come at a better time.

“Maria just played great today with five birdies and just a solid all around round,” said Kelly. “She played with a lot of determination. She got nervous being so far under par, but she hung in there and played some great golf. We just need to find a way to keep her around; I don't want to let her graduate.”

Freshman Lindsay Caljouw bounced back from her disappointing finish to Monday's first round with a great one-over par score of 73. Caljouw played her first three holes to par before a birdie on No. 13 put her at one-under. Much like the first round, she ran into trouble on No. 15 and 16, with a bogey and a double-bogey to go to two-over. The frosh then holed a birdie on No. 17 and made par on 18 to wrap up her front nine at one-over. Her back nine saw her put up a pair of bogeys on No. 1 and No. 3, but Caljouw stuck in birdies on No. 5 and on No. 9 to get back to one-over. She is tied for 17th in the individual standings with a total of 152.

“Caljouw birdied her last hole which was really great, so she played well and played the back nine particularly well,” said Kelly. “She hit the ball well, she just had a little trouble with her wedges. She's a strong player and a tough competitor. I was proud of her she hung tough today.”

Hannah Hoch had her second-best round of the year on Tuesday with a two-over 74. She went birdie-bogey on No. 12 and No. 13, then played even par golf for the next 10 consecutive holes. She then bogeyed both No. 6 and No. 7, but rallied for two pars to close out her day and wrap up CU's third-best round of the day at 74. She is now tied for 20th in the standings with one round to play with a total score of 153.

“Hannah is hitting the ball better than she has been, so that def helps. It was a pretty steady round for her, a couple birdies and a few bogeys. I saw her make some great up and downs to save par and it's nice to see that part of her game on track again.

Lindsay Senger, playing in the No. 5 spot, got off to a rough start with a double bogey on No. 11 and two more bogeys on No. 16 and 17, but played the rest of the front to even par to complete the front at four-over. Her back nine was much-improved, with four bogeys and two birdies to close her round at six-over 78, a four-stroke improvement from her opening round 82 on Monday, giving her 160 and a tie for 47th.

“Senger finished real well,” Kelly said. “She was seven over after 12 holes and came home one under par on her last six and that was big for her and big for our team.”

Junior Lindsay Koth played the front nine to three-over, but a pair of double-bogeys on No. 3 and No. 4, along with a bogeys on No. 7 and No. 8 with just one birdie on No. 5 to offset the damage pushed her to an eight-over 80. Her total score of 159 is good for a tie for 41st.

The 2006 Big 12 Women's Golf Championship will wrap up on Wednesday morning with the final round. CU golf fans can follow the action and check the Buff tee times for Wednesday's action at www.golfstat.com.

COLORADO INDIVIDUALS

T10. Maria Persson-Gulda ... 78-71?149

T17. Lindsay Caljouw........ 79-73?152

T20. Hannah Hoch ........... 79-74?153

T41. Lindsay Koth .......... 79-80?159

T47. Lindsay Senger......... 82-78?160

Team Scores

1. Oklahoma State ...... 301-291?592

2. Texas A&M.............. 302-293?595

3. Missouri............... 313-287?600

4. Nebraska............... 307-297?604

5. Kansas State .......... 312-297?609