Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
Round Three
Golfers Finish Third at Texas Tech Invitational
October 07, 2008 | Women's Golf
LUBBOCK, Texas ? The University of Colorado women's golf team was unable to gain significant ground here Tuesday, but still managed to climb one spot in the standings and tie for third place at the Texas Tech McHaney/Morehead Invitational.
In the team standings, University of Arkansas-Little Rock rallied from a three-stroke deficit to win with a 908 total after shooting the tournament's low round of 297 on the final day. They overtook Baylor, who led after day one (305-305-306?913), while Colorado (313-301-306?920) and host Texas Tech (303-307-310?920) tied for third.
“I am not overly disappointed with how we played today,” said assistant coach Brent Franklin. “It was a long golf course and if we can come away from a tournament and think that we didn't play as well as we could have and still finish third speaks a lot for the potential of this team.”
On the individual side, freshman Emily Talley led the Buffs for the first time this season, shooting a three-over par 76 in the third round and finishing with a three-round total of 229. Talley now owns three top-10 finishes through four tournaments in her freshman campaign.
“I feel like the wind just really got to us yesterday morning, but it was a great test for us to see how well we could turn around and come back and rally from a bad round,” said Talley. “I am happy that I finished in the top-10 but there is still work to be done before our next tournament.
Talley was followed closely by junior Christine Kim, who shot an 81 in the first round but rallied back in the final two rounds for a two day total of 230. She finished just outside of the top-10 in 11th place.
“I am really happy for Christine,” said Franklin. “This is the best that I've seen her play in a long time. She is starting to feel more comfortable and you have to remember that she took a year off with an injured wrist, so now that she is playing more and getting confident bodes well for us getting stronger as a team.”
“I just really didn't play a lot this summer and I had a slow start this season,” said Kim. “I am now getting back into it though and my swing was a lot more comfortable. Everything has been a little rusty for me but this tournament I hit the ball a lot better and got rid of my putter last tournament so I was able to improve there as well.”
Sophomore Stephanie Simich, CU's individual leader after day one, turned in a 73-77-81?231 scorecard and finished in a tie for 13th place individually, which marks her highest career finish in a collegiate tournament.
Freshman Emily Childs posted a seven-stroke improvement from the second round to the third, shooting a one-over 74 on Tuesday. Her three-round total of 234 moved her up 17 spots from yesterday into a tie for 20th place individually.
“Yesterday was so bad for me that I was just too embarrassed to come out and do the same thing again today,” said Childs. “I couldn't hit it or make putts yesterday and today I just went out and worked really hard for a 74. I still wasn't even playing that well, but I made it happen.”
Junior Dominique Pytlewski rounded out the scoring for the Buffaloes, tying for 41st place with a 239 total.
The Texas Tech Rawls golf course will also be the host of the Big 12 Women's Golf Championships in April, so the Buffs did appreciate having the chance to think about what they will be able to do differently here in the spring.
“I think the main thing that they understand now is how their golf game fits on this course,” said Franklin. “They have a better idea of which pins they need to be a little more careful will and how to play certain holes a little bit better. Experience can never be a bad thing and we feel more comfortable knowing what to expect going into the Conference tournament.”
Colorado will have almost a month off from tournament play before returning to action on November 2-3 at the Texas State Challenge at Wolfdancer for the final fall tournament of the season.
BUFFALO INDIVIDUALS
10 Emily Talley ................ 80-73-76-229
T11 Christine Kim ............... 81-74-75-230
T13 Stephanie Simich ........ 73-77-81-231
T20 Emily Childs ................ 79-81-74-234
T41 Dominique Pytlewski ... 81-77-81-239
TEAM STANDINGS
1 UALR .......................... 303-308-297-908
2 Baylor.......................... 302-305-306-913
3 Colorado..................... 313-301-306-920
Texas Tech.................. 303-307-310-920
5 Nebraska..................... 312-303-307-922
6 Missouri....................... 315-310-303-928
7 Kansas........................ 313-316-314-943
8 Middle Tennessee St.... 317-308-320-945
9 Redlands CC................ 322-310-326-958
10 North Texas................. 315-326-318-959
11 Kansas State .............. 337-312-314-963
12 Texas San Antonio ...... 325-313-328-966
13 Sam Houston St........... 334-315-319-968
TOP-FIVE INDIVIDUALS
1 Sara Wikstrom, UALR..................... 73-68-71-212
2 Hannah Burke, Baylor..................... 73-74-73-220
3 Lene Hafsten-Morch, Baylor............ 73-73-75-221
4 Mallory Fraiche, UALR.................... 75-75-75-225
5 Kate White, Nebraska..................... 80-72-74-226
Ulrika van Niekerk, Texas Tech......... 75-74-77-226
