Kansas Women's Golf Tied for Fifth after Big 12 Championship First Round

April 19, 2013

RHODES, Iowa – Kansas freshman Yupaporn ‘Mook’ Kawinpakorn carded a 4-over 76 and is tie for third after the first round of the 17th annual Big 12 Championship at The Harvester Golf Club here Friday. The second round of three for the conference championship will be Saturday with the final Sunday on the par-72 course.

Under cold and windy conditions, the temperature never reached above 39 degrees with winds from the north gusting from 20-25 miles per hour most the day, Kansas is in tied for fifth place after shooting a 322 (+34). The Jayhawks entered the event the No. 8 seed in the nine-team field and are tied with top-seed Oklahoma. Texas Tech leads the tournament after shooting a 316 (+28) and only 11 strokes separate the Red Raiders and eighth-place Texas (327). KU and OU are six strokes behind Texas Tech and four shots ahead of seventh-place TCU, which shot at 326 (+38).

“There was no ‘take a break’ while you were out there,” Kansas head coach Erin O’Neil said of the constant wind and cold on Friday. “You had to be on mentally the whole time. They did a good job and hung in there. They gave a few shots back coming in, but overall they hung in there and we are giving ourselves a chance.”

Due to the weather conditions, Kansas started Friday’s round on hole No. 10. Kawinpakorn had a solid start recording two birdies and ending her first nine holes with an even-par 36. She then had four bogies on the courses front nine to record a 76. She is tied with Oklahoma State’s Julie Yang, who also shot a 76.

“Mook played steady and is feeling good for tomorrow,” O’Neil said of Kawinpakorn. “She’s in good position going into Saturday. She hit the ball well and has played well this spring. She’s due.”

Playing in the No. 4 spot for KU, sophomore Minami Levonowich shot KU’s second best score, an 8-over 80, which is tied for ninth in the 45-golfer field. Like Kawinpakorn, Levonowich recorded two birdies under the extreme golf conditions. Juniors Thanuttra ‘Fhong’ Boonraksasat, KU’s No. 1 golfer, and Meghan Potee, KU’s No. 3 spot, each shot an 11-over 83 and are tied for 29th individually. KU senior Audrey Yowell is two strokes behind her junior teammates after shooting a 15-over 85 and is tied for 34th.

“Putting got a lot of us and most everyone today,” O’Neil said. “It was windy and the greens were very tough. It was hard to get the right speed. We had a few three putts but ball-striking-wise, we did really well.”

Being in fifth place, Kansas will be grouped with host Iowa State and Oklahoma for Saturday’s second round with tee times starting at 10:50 a.m. One can follow the 2013 Big 12 Championship at golfstat.com

2013 Big 12 Championship

The Harvester Golf Club * Rhodes, Iowa * Par 72

April 19-21

Team Standings (nine teams, par 288)

1. Texas Tech – 316 (+28)

2. Oklahoma State – 317 (+29)

3. Baylor – 319 (+31)

4. Iowa State – 320 (+32)

T5. KANSAS – 322 (+34)

T5. Oklahoma – 322 (+34)

7. TCU – 326 (+38)

8. Texas – 327 (+39)

9. Kansas State – 350 (+62)

Top 10 Individuals (45 golfers, par 72)

1. Lauren Taylor, Baylor – 74 (+2)

2. Kimberly Kaufman, Texas Tech – 75 (+3)

T3. Yupaporn Kawinpakorn, KANSAS – 76 (+4)

T3. Julie Yang, Oklahoma State – 76 (+4)

5. P. Phuntumabamrung, Iowa State – 77 (+5)

T6. Gabriella Dominguez, Texas Tech – 78 (+6)

T6. April McCoy, TCU – 78 (+6)

8. Kelsey Vines, Oklahoma State – 79 (+7)

T9. Minami Levonowich, KANSAS – 80 (+8)

T9. Emily Collins, Oklahoma – 80 (+8)

T9. Hayley Davis, Baylor – 80 (+8)

T9. Josephine Janson, Oklahoma State – 80 (+8)

T9. Bertine Strauss, Texas – 80 (+8)

T9. A.C. Tanguay, Oklahoma – 80 (+8)

Other Kansas Scores

T29. Thanuttra Boonraksasat, Kansas – 83 (+11)

T29. Meghan Potee, Kansas – 83 (+11)

T34. Audrey Yowell, Kansas – 85 (+13)

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