Women's Golf In Fifth at Fresno State

Monday, February 26

Fresno, Calif.

All Day

Colorado

Rounds One/Two

February 26, 2007 | Women's Golf

By: Lindsay Lew, Associate SID

FRESNO, Calif. ? The University of Colorado women's golf team got off to a good start here at the Kitihara Invitational on Monday, and despite a rough time on the back nine are still within striking distance of the team title on Tuesday, currently in fifth place with a team total of 308.

“Today was a tough day with very inconsistent conditions,” said CU coach Anne Kelly. “It started out decent and as the day progressed it got windy and cooler and it played tough for the back nine for us. We have room to improve tomorrow by just being more patient and things should get better.”

UC-Irvine leads the tournament with a team total of 297. The Anteaters are followed by hosts Fresno State (299), Hawaii (303), Long Beach State (307) and Colorado (308).

Freshman Dominique Pytlewski was the star for CU on Monday, as she led the Buffaloes with a first round even par 72, leaving her in a three-way tie for first place with UC-Irvine's Jane Chin and Selanee Henderson entering Tuesday's final round. She got her day off to a good start with a birdie on the first hole, then went back to even par after a bogey on six. She then went birdie-bogey on eight and nine to put her at even par at the turn. She then shot par on all nine holes on the back for her best collegiate round.

“Domi played a very solid round,” said Kelly. “An even par round today was an excellent round. She was hitting good solid shots and making a lot of pars. To par every hole on the back today was very, very good. She was the picture of consistency. She played smart golf, hit solid shots, placed them where she should be and that's what it takes in conditions like this, because it's cold and windy here.”

“I hit all nine greens in regulation on the front, so it was a solid start to the round,” said Pytlewski. “The birdies were all short putts. I had five up and downs today and I made them all, it was a lot of par golf. It was good course management, I didn't hit any woods at all, I hit hybrid in the wind even on the holes that played long because it was the smart way to play. I gave myself birdie opportunities that way. The up and downs were more to do with putting than anything else. I only missed two fairways all day so the driver was good too.”

Pytlewski was followed by sophomore Lindsay Caljouw, who shot a two over 74, good for a tie for seventh place in the individual standings. Caljouw played the front nine to one under at the turn, but she got tripped up by a pair of bogeys on 11 and 13. She then doubled 16, but bounced back with a birdie and par to close out her round at two-over. It is her third best round of the season, as she has carded an even par 72 and a one over 73 previously this year.

“Cali played a good solid front nine and got off to a good start with a birdie on her first hole,” said Kelly. “She finished very strong with a birdie on 17 and a par on 18. She was able to control her round even with a couple of bad holes. She had a great attitude today and good control. She made a few swing changes that she has implemented and it's paid off. Caljouw also putted really well on greens that aren't easy.”

“Today was a good day, it was a good 74,” said Caljouw. “I only hit nine greens, but I was five out of nine on my up and downs. The driver and the short game are working extremely well; I only had 27 putts today so I'm happy with that. My putter is working awesome. On my double I hit a good chip shot and it sculled across the green, and then I was angry on the putt so that was bad as well. I birdied the next hole so I was happy with that. Hopefully we can all get the mental game working better tomorrow and make a run at this thing.”

As well as things went for Caljouw and Pytlewski, they were equally as frustrating for the other three CU golfers as Christine Kim and Julie Kim each shot a nine-over 81 for a tie for 61st place, and senior Hannah Hoch was an 11-over 83 and in a tie for 80th.

“The freshmen are learning and these are tough conditions,” said Kelly. “It's a good learning experience. They need to make better decisions about clubs to hit and where to hit and how to be patient in weather like this and that all takes experience. They need to learn to manage their rounds a little better.

“Hannah was grinding it out as normal but just wasn't hitting it as well as she would like. She had a quadruple bogey that was just a bad bunker that gave her fits. She was playing well until that quad at just three-over, but she's competitor and I do expect her to play well tomorrow.”

Colorado also had one Buff playing as an individual in junior Lindsay Senger. Senger had a very solid day, as she put together a six-over 78, which leaves her in a tie for 29th. As for the team, Pytlewski is optimistic about the final round on Tuesday and thinks the Buffaloes can climb the leaderboard.

“We usually are leading after the first round, so this will be different coming from behind,” said Pytlewski.
“Tomorrow will be better for us as a team and hopefully we can come back and get back in this. Hopefully the rain will stay away.”

Teams will tee off on Tuesday beginning at 8 a.m. and fans can follow the action at www.golfstat.com. Tee times will be announced on Monday evening.

Kitihara Fresno State Invitational Tournament

Colorado

T1. Dominique Pytlewski........ 72