Buffs Take Third in Baja Intercollegiate

Tuesday, February 6

Encenada, Mexico

All Day

Colorado

Round Three

February 06, 2007 | Women's Golf

By: Lindsay Lew, Associate SID

BAJAMAR, Mexico ? The University of Colorado women's golf team got out to an early lead in the first round of the 2007 Baja Intercollegiate Invitational, but faltered down the stretch and finished third in the darkness and fog shortened tournament.

The Buffs took the initial lead with a team total of 298 after the first round of play here Monday, but the second round proved tricky for the entire field and CU was unable to hold on to the top spot on the podium.

“I think that this is a good lesson learned for this young team (three freshmen, one sophomore and one senior) that no matter what score you are shooting every shot is important,” said CU head coach Anne Kelly. “You never know when your score might count or when you won't get all your rounds in to complete the tournament.”

Freshman Christine Kim posted her best collegiate round in the first round of play, shooting a one-under par 71 in the morning. She was followed by senior Hannah Hoch and sophomore Lindsay Caljouw, both of whom shot 74. Classmate Julie Kim shot a 79 to round out the scoring effort, while fellow freshman Dominique Pytlewski shot 84.

“There were some good things in this tournament. For starters, we were leading the tournament after the first round playing mediocre golf,” said Kelly. “Christine's 71 shows great promise for her, and for the team, learning lessons about never giving up on a round were positives we will take home. The fact that we actually got to play golf was a positive. We've had snow on the ground since the team arrived back on campus from winter break so they really haven't had a chance to get out and just play. So to be in the lead after our first round of golf this year was very encouraging.”

In the second round, the Buffaloes were unable to maintain the form that got them into first place. The tournament was suspended due to darkness on Monday night with teams having anywhere from two to seven holes left to play, thanks to some late afternoon fog rolling into Baja from the Pacific Ocean.

The teams teed off at first light the next days, which was approximately 6:40 a.m. on Tuesday morning in an attempt to get the final holes of the second round in, however the fog reappeared and again suspended play soon after the Buffaloes closed out their final two holes. An hour later play resumed, but by that time there was not enough time to get in the third and final round. That would be to the detriment of Colorado, who had gotten two hours of practice in while waiting for the second round of play to wrap.

When the scores came in, Colorado was bumped into third place in the standings. Oregon finished with a winning total of 298-311-609, followed by Louisville with 613 and the Buffs at 298-322-620.

“It was great to get out on a course and though we were disappointed by our second round we will bring some positives home with us,” said Hoch. “We are looking forward to our next opportunity in Fresno in three weeks time.”

Individually, Caljouw paced the Buffaloes with her score of 78, good for a two round total of 152 and the third best score overall, her top finish this year. She was followed by Hannah Hoch, who posted a 74-80-154. Pytlewski rebounded from her first round disappointment with a 78 to give her a 162. Julie Kim shot an 86 for a total of 165, followed by Christine Kim who lapsed from a 71 first round total and a share of third place, to shoot a 90 and a total of 161.

“Hopefully we will get to see some green grass back at home, even if we have to bring out the shovels,” said Pytlewski. “We all know what we need to work on individually, and are ready to break out some low scores. Bring it!”

CU will now, with some help from Mother Nature and hopefully not Pytlewski's shovel, get some work in on grass in Colorado and prepare for the Fresno State Invitational on Feb. 26-27. Colorado will travel a full five-person squad as well as an individual to the meet.