Jayhawks Defeat Cornhuskers in Women's Golf Challenge
March 20, 2013
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas junior Meghan Potee shot a 4-over 76 on a sunny but blustery day as the Kansas women’s golf team defeated Nebraska by 10 strokes (317-327) to win the Jayhawk-Cornhusker Challenge at Alvamar Golf Club Wednesday afternoon.
Cold weather cut the event from 36 to 18 holes on the Alvamar public course which measured 5,915 yards with a par 72 for the event. On the first official day of spring, the two teams teed off in just above freezing temperatures with 10-20 mph wind gusts, mainly from the north. The Jayhawk-Husker Challenge came about because both teams were rained out of an earlier round in a previous spring tournament.
Potee led the 15-golfer field and finished ahead of KU teammates sophomore Minami Levonowich and senior Audrey Yowell and Nebraska’s Steffi Niesen who each tied for second with a 79 (+7). Yowell was one of three Jayhawks to play as individuals.
“They hung in there,” Kansas head coach Erin O’Neil said of the Jayhawks’ victory. “Meghan hit the ball solid and hung in there to shoot a 76. Minami had a good round under these conditions.”
As a team, Kansas shot a 317 (+29) to Nebraska’s 327 (+39). Potee and Levonowich each contributed to the team scoring along with junior Thanuttra Boonraksasat with an 80 (+8), freshman Yupaporn Kawinpakorn who shot an 82 (+10) and sophomore Gabby DiMarco who carded an 85 (+13). Joining Yowell as individuals were KU teammates sophomore Michelle Woods (80) and freshman Mackenzie Thayer (81).
“When it is cold like this, the ball doesn’t go as far,” O’Neil said of conditions. “And when it is real windy, that was shifting, it’s hard to trust that you have the right club in your hand. I think a few of the players had a hard time committing to the club they had and came up short.”
Kansas will next play Briar’s Creek Invitational at Johns Island, S.C., March 25-26. From there the Jayhawks will play at the Indiana Invitational in Bloomington, Inc., April 13-14, then the Big 12 Championships in Rhodes, Iowa, April 19-21.
“We learned a lot because we could face some of this type of weather when we go play in Indiana and the conference (championship) is at Iowa State,” O’Neil said. “This was a good learning opportunity to make us stronger and better down the road.”
Jayhawk-Cornhusker Challenge
Alvamar Golf Club (public course)
Lawrence, Kan. * Par 72
Team
1. Kansas – 317 (+29)
2. Nebraska – 327 (+39)
Individuals
1. Meghan Potee, Kansas – 76 (+4)
T2. Minami Levonowich, Kansas – 79 (+7)
T2. Steffi Neisen, Nebraska – 79 (+7)
T2. Audrey Yowell, Kansas (ind) – 79 (+7)
T5. Thanuttra Boonraksasat, Kansas – 80 (+8)
T5. Michelle Woods, Kansas (ind) – 80 (+8)
T7. Cassie Deeg, Nebraska – 81 (+9)
T7. Mackenzie Thayer, Kansas (ind) – 81 (+9)
T9. Yupaporn Kawinpakorn, Kansas – 82 (+10)
T9. Jackie O’Doherty, Nebraska (ind) – 82 (+10)
11. Katelyn Wright, Nebraska – 83 (+11)
T12. Hannah Luebke, Nebraska (ind) – 84 (+12)
T12. Morgan Smejkal, Nebraska – 84 (+12)
T14. Gabby DiMarco, Kansas – 85 (+13)
T14. Cassidy Stelzmiller, Nebraska – 85 (+13)
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