Nordstedt Wins Marilynn Smith Invitational; Jayhawks Defend Title

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas women's golf team defended its title at the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational with scores of 281-280-294 (+3) Monday and Tuesday at the Lawrence Country Club (LCC). Sophomore Ebba Nordstedt led the way for the Jayhawks, and secured her first collegiate victory at the tournament as well.

"Super proud of the team's effort this week, and it was just a total team effort," Kansas head coach Lindsay Kuhle said.?"I think yesterday we had every player on the team shoot under par, on a very challenging par 71 golf course."

This marks the ninth time that Kansas has won the event, and is the third time that the Jayhawks have won the tournament in back-to-back seasons. The last time Kansas won back-to-back Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitationals was in 2012 and 2013.

The Jayhawks score of 855 (+3) is the second lowest 54-hole record on the event, right behind the record that Kansas set last season with a 858 (-6), also at LCC. Kansas' first two rounds of 281 (-3) and 280 (-4) also find their way into the history books, tying the sixth and fourth, respectively, lowest 18-hole rounds in Marilynn Smith Invitational history.

Kansas led the way with a score of 855 (+3), followed by Missouri (+17), CSU Fullerton (+27), UC Davis (+37), and Cal Baptist (+40) to round out the top five in the 14-team field.

Nordstedt had a dominant tournament overall, securing her first collegiate win of her career. She finished the event with scores of 63-71-73 (-6), and led the 76-golfer field by seven-strokes. Nordstedt rewrote the record books as her round one score of 63 ties a program record for lowest 18-hole score, sets a new career low round for Nordstedt, and sets a new women's course record at the Lawrence Country Club. Nordstedt's 54-hole score of 207 (-6) ties her for the second lowest 54-hole score in tournament history.

"It was fun, my first round I had eight birdies and finished with five birdies on my last five holes. Eight-under always helps the team, and it's always exciting helping the team and playing at home." Nordstedt said after her record-breaking opening round.

The rest of the Kansas golfers dominated throughout the event. Junior Lyla Louderbaugh finished inside the top five, while seniors Amy DeKock, Anna Wallin, and sophomore Jillian Fatkin all finished inside the top 10.

"All players finished in the top 10 that were on the team," Kuhle said. "I'm most proud of the fact that they fought very hard for KU, and they really do appreciate all the fans and support, and this is their way of showing it and giving back to the community. So super, super proud of the girls and their effort this week and just how they represented KU."

Louderbaugh shot 74-70-72 (+3) and finished in fourth place, securing her second top-five finish of the year and fourth of her career. DeKock finished the tournament with scores of 74-70-75 (+6) and finished in seventh place individually, recording her fourth top-20 finish in four events.

Both Wallin and Fatkin tied for eighth place. Wallin finished the tournament with scores of 70-76-73 (+7) and secured her second top-20 finish of the year, while Fatkin carded scores of 75-69-76 (+7) and finished inside the top 20 for the second time this season.

Sophomore Zoe Pinillos, and freshmen Kinslea Jones and Marieke Ebens all competed as individuals throughout the tournament. Jones finished with scores of 73-72-81 (+13) and tied for 25th place. Ebens shot 81-76-72 (+16) and tied for 37th, followed by Pinillos who carded rounds of 79-80-81 (+27) and tied for 64th place.

UP NEXT
Some members of the Kansas women's golf team is set to travel to Omaha, Nebraska to compete as individuals at the Big O Classic at the Oak Hills Country Club from Oct. 13-14.

University of Kansas Athletics

Nordstedt Wins Marilynn Smith Invitational; Jayhawks Defend Title

Players Mentioned

Amy DeKock

Marieke Ebens

Jillian Fatkin

Kinslea Jones

Lyla Louderbaugh

Ebba Nordstedt

Zoe Pinillos

Anna Wallin

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