Jayhawks Look to Improve at Rio Verde Invitational
March 7, 2012
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas women’s golf team travels to the desert March 9-11 to compete in the 10th Annual Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational in Rio Verde, Ariz., hosted by Western Michigan. The Jayhawks, who won the event in 2009, return for the first time since 2010 when they finished fifth.
The Jayhawks are coming off a ninth place finish at the Sir Pizza Cards Challenge last week led by sophomore Thanuttra Boonraksasat who finished eighth individually. Boonraksasat is averaging 76 strokes per round for the 2011-12 season, with her best finish at the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational where she finished in a tie for fourth.
Kansas looks to improve in Rio Verde at the Quail Run course (par-71, 6260 yards). Head coach Erin O’Neil believes that this course is well suited for this team but she knows the team needs to stay focused.
“The course at Rio Verde sets up well for us,” Coach O’Neil said. “The key to our success this week will depend on how disciplined we are in our decision-making and course management. It’s a very score able course; however it’s not the kind of course that separates the competition, therefore our mental games and our ability to commit to each shot will be that much more important.”
Boonraksasat will be joined in Rio Verde by senior Katy Nugent (77.3 strokes per round), sophomore Meghan Potee (77), freshman Nadia Luttner (77.8) and Audrey Yowell (79.1).
The 16-team field consists of: Akron, Arkansas-Little Rock, Ball State, Bradley, Eastern Michigan, Missouri State, Northern Arizona, Ohio, Penn State, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Toledo, Western Michigan, Wichita State, Xavier and Yale.
Kansas’ results will be available following each round at www.kuathletics.com and overall results will be tracked live at www.golfstat.com.
