Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
Minnesota Invitational
Buffs Tied For Fifth At Minnesota Invitational
September 15, 2014 | Women's Golf
MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Colorado Women's golf team is tied for fifth after two rounds at the Minnesota Invitational on Monday held at the Minikahda Club, hosted by the University of Minnesota.
Despite some of the team playing under the weather, the Buffaloes (309-297–606) improved their second round score by 12 strokes and climbed three spots into a tie for fifth place with former Big 12 Conference opponent Texas (305-301–606). East Carolina leads the event at 5-over par 581 with Purdue in second place, 19 strokes back at 24-over par 600. GRU Augusta (25-over par 601) is in third and Kansas is four strokes behind GRU recording a 302-303–605 team score.
“It was a rough start to the day,” said Colorado head coach Anne Kelly. “It was pretty rainy and cold this morning and we got off to a slow start, but I was really proud of the team for fighting back.”
Leading the way for the Buffs was junior Alexis Keating who carded a 76-73–149, 5-over par and is tied for 11th place. After a difficult front side, going 4-over with a bogey and double-bogey on holes three and four, she settled down and recorded two birdies to par the back nine. In the second round, Keating was 2-over making the turn and drained back-to-back birdies on both par-fives on the back nine to record a 1-over 73. The Washington native led the field in par-five scoring at 3-under.
Sophomore Esther Lee recorded a 7-over 151 after two rounds. Even-par through the first six holes, Lee hit a rough patch, going 3-over in the next five holes, with three bogeys, but rebounded and was even-par the rest of the way. She came out strong in the second round going 1-over on the front nine. Although Lee struggled to close out the final three holes recording three straight bogeys, Lee still finished tied for 20th place and is in good position entering play on Tuesday.
“It's a very good golf course; a championship course,” said Kelly. I think it is great experience for our players to play a course of this quality and learn a little bit more about course management.”
Freshman Brittany Fan (78-75–153) had a rollercoaster first round, shooting 7-over on the front nine and then 1-under on the back nine. She settled-in during the final 18 holes carding a 3-over 75 and is tied for 25th place at 9-over par after the first day of competition.
Junior Jamie Oleksiew struggled to shoot an 8-over par, 80 in her first round, but had a much better second round of play. She posted a 1-over 73, finishing seven strokes better on the final 18 holes. In the process, Oleksiew moved up 23 spots and is tied for 25th with Fan.
“Jamie didn't let her first round affect her,” said Kelly. “She came out and shot one over in the second round, which I think is a very good score on that golf course. To be able to come back and play the next 18 the way she did is very impressive.”
Sophomore Natalie Vivaldi is 20-over and tied for 71st after a tough two rounds, recording an 11-over 83 to start the day and 9-over 81 in the second round. She finished strong paring the final five holes to go 2-over on the final back nine.
Redshirt freshman Tori Glenn played individually for the Buffaloes and is tied for 62nd after recording an 81-80–161 through 36 holes. Glenn also had a tough day on the course, but ended her afternoon on a positive note, going -1 under in the last three holes of the second round.
East Carolina's F. Gustafsson Spang (69-66–135) leads the tournament at 9-under par. Minnesota, the tournament's host school has two players in the top five. Anna Laorr is six shots back at 3-under and Sabrine Garrison who is playing individually for the Golden Gophers is even-par. Purdue's Anna Appert Lund and Kansas' Gabby DiMarco round out the top five at 1-over par.
The final round gets under way Tuesday with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. CT.
|
BUFFALO INDIVIDUALS |
||
|
Rank |
Team |
Score |
|
T11. |
76-73–149 |
|
|
T20. |
75-76–151 |
|
|
T25. |
78-75–153 |
|
|
T25. |
80-73–153 |
|
|
71. |
83-81–164 |
|
|
T62. |
81-80-161 |
|
|
TOP 5 INDIVIDUALS |
||
|
Rank |
Team |
Score |
|
1. |
F. Gustafsson Spang, East Carolina |
69-66–135 |
|
2. |
Anna Laorr, Minnesota |
70-71–141 |
|
3. |
Sabrine Garrison, Minnesota |
70-74–144 |
|
T4. |
Anna Appert Lund, Purdue |
71-74–145 |
|
T4. |
Gabby DiMarco, Kansas |
71-74–145 |
|
TEAM SCORES |
||
|
Rank |
Team |
Score |
|
1. |
East Carolina |
294-287–581 |
|
2. |
Purdue |
308-292–600 |
|
3. |
GRU Augusta |
300-301–601 |
|
4. |
Kansas |
302-303–605 |
|
T5. |
COLORADO |
309-297-606 |
|
T5. |
Texas |
305-301–606 |
|
7. |
Kent State |
301-307–608 |
|
8. |
Minnesota |
311-299–610 |
|
T9. |
Illinois |
319-293–612 |
|
T9. |
SMU |
307-305–612 |
|
11. |
Texas State |
314-299–613 |
|
12. |
CSU Fullerton |
309-308-617 |
|
13. |
Nebraska |
312-309–621 |
|
14. |
Fresno State |
311-313–624 |
Players Mentioned
