Jayhawks Sit in 10th After First Round of Big 12 Championship
April 27, 2012
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LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas women’s golf team sits in 10th place with a first round total of 338 after two weather delays during the first round of the Big 12 Championship Friday at Lawrence Country Club. Windy conditions made the tough course even more difficult for most golfers, including Kansas which has played in a variety of scenarios this season.
Junior Audrey Yowell led the Jayhawks with an eight-over 78 despite the wind and is currently in a tie for 10th place following the first round Friday. Head coach Erin O’Neil was impressed with how well Yowell played and how she took the challenge head-on in a difficult day of golf.
“Audrey did a phenomenal job today,” Coach O’Neil said. “I thought her head was in a good place; she embraced the wind challenge and kind of rolled with it which paid off. We got her a new driver and I think that’s helping her a lot. She’s hitting it further so that’s obviously giving her different irons to hit to the greens and her putting was great today.”
“It was a tough day,” O’Neil added. “We said we wanted wind but I don’t know if we really meant for it to get this bad. It was the kind of day where you had to be patient, just keep grinding and know that you’re going to hit some bad shots but you’re also going to hit some good shots. This course definitely tests you mentally.”
Sophomore Thanuttra (Fhong) Boonraksasat started the day off strong, finishing the front nine just three-over but the wind made the back nine more difficult and she finished the day with an 83. Coach O’Neil thought Boonraksasat started the day solid but had some bad shots get in her way.
“Fhong was putting it really well today but she struggled a little with her chipping,” Coach O’Neil said. “I know she hit it in the water on 18 which gave her some penalty shots but overall she hit the ball pretty well. She kind of struggled on the ninth hole which I think kind of carried over in the second nine.”
Senior Katy Nugent carded an 88 on Friday to put her in a tie for 46th while freshman Gabriella DiMarco came in one stroke behind with an 89 in a tie for 48th. Sophomore Meghan Potee rounded out the Jayhawk lineup with a 91 and is currently in 50th. The Jayhawks hope to gain some ground on Saturday when they tee off starting at 8 a.m. Coach O’Neil wants the team to play with more confidence and have fun.
“We’re just hoping to recover a little bit tomorrow and get some confidence back,” said Coach O’Neil. “I just want them to go out and have fun. I think they were trying a little too hard today and got in their own way so I just want them to go out and enjoy the course and hosting the Big 12 Championship.”
Play will continue Saturday with tee times starting at 8 a.m. off the first tee. Live stats will be available on golfstat.com.
