Kansas Women’s Golf Improves on Day 2 at NCAA Championship

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TULSA – Kansas junior Minami Levonowich recorded an eagle in her second-consecutive NCAA event as the KU women’s golf team improved 20 strokes in Wednesday’s second round of the NCAA Championship at Tulsa Country Club (TCC).
 
It was deja vu for Levonowich as she also eagled a par 4 in the second round on a closing hole at the NCAA Central Regional on May 9 at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Oklahoma. This time she used a pitching wedge from 117 yards out on the 353-yard hole No. 7 at TCC.
 
“It just hit one bounce in the front and rolled in,” Levonowich said of her eagle shot. “I didn’t get to see it (go in). It’s crazy, twice in a row. I had no birdies today and if you don’t have a birdie, you might as well make an eagle. This was the first time (eagles in consecutive tournaments) and I’m glad it mattered in regionals and here.”
 
As a team, Kansas improved 20 strokes from Tuesday’s opening round and shot a 293 (+13). The 293 was KU’s second sub-300 round in NCAA Regional or NCAA Championship history with the 290 shot in the NCAA Central Regional on May 9 being the only lower score. Kansas moved up one spot to 23^rd in the 24-team field with a two-round 606 (+46). KU is two shots ahead of Campbell at 608 (+48) and six shots behind South Carolina who is in 20^th position heading into Thursday’s third of four rounds.
 
“We hit the ball better today, for sure, and made a lot of ups and downs,” KU head coach Erin O’Neil said. “Our putting and short game was better and our heads were in a better place. It was still pretty windy today the gusts and made it tough to club at times but I think we did a good job of managing it.”
 
Levonowich’s ended the day with a 1-over 71, tying sophomore teammate Yupaporn “Mook” Kawinpakorn for the KU team lead in the second round. Levonowich was steady all day as she had eight pars in her first nine holes, while Mook recorded four birdies in her second round with two on the front nine and two on the back.
 
“Minami went out and shot another steady round for us,” O’Neil said. “She was hitting fairways and greens. She had an eagle, again, from the fairway on No. 7, our 16^th hole, which gave her a good little lift coming in for the last few holes. She was able to finish strong and help us move up a little bit on the leaderboard.”
 
Levonowich is tied for 24^th in the 126-golfer field with a two-round 145 (+5), while Mook started the day tied for 112nd and will enter the third round tied for 93^rd. Mook’s 12 stroke improvement from her opening round tied for the third-best improvement from day one to day two. Jayhawk teammate Pornvipa “Faji” Sakdee also improved 12 strokes with a 77 (+7) Wednesday. Faji had 13 pars Wednesday.
 
“Mook played much better and hit the ball better,” O’Neil said. “Her short game was definitely on today whereas yesterday it wasn’t. She played much better and improved a ton.”
 
KU senior Thanuttra “Fhong” Boonraksasat improved two shots from her first round with a 4-over 74 on Wednesday. She compiled one birdie and 14 pars Wednesday and is tied for 58^th individually with a 150 (+10). Fellow senior Meghan Potee closed out KU’s scoring with an 84 (+14) in her second round.
 
Oklahoma leads the NCAA Championship after two rounds with a 575 (+15). The Sooners shot a 288 (+8) in Tuesday’s opening round and improved by one shot with a 287 Wednesday. Duke is three shots behind OU at 578 (+18), while Arizona State is in third at 580 (+20).
 
Oklahoma’s Alexandra Kaui shot a 3-under 67 Wednesday and leads the field with a two-round 135 (-5). Kaui is three strokes ahead of Stanford’s Lauren Kim, who shot a 67 Wednesday, and is at 138 (-2) and Allyssa Ferrell of Michigan State who shot a 69 (-1) Wednesday and is also at 138. There are seven golfers at even par or better heading into Thursday’s third round.
 
Kansas will tee off at 7:30 a.m. on hole No. 10 on Thursday for its third of four rounds for the NCAA Championship. The Jayhawks will be paired with Iowa State and Campbell.
 
“We want to keep improving and keep moving up (the leaderboard) and do the best we can,” O’Neil said about heading into Thursday’s third round.
 
Live scoring from the NCAA Championship is at www.golfstat.com and one can also follow KU via twitter at @KUWomensGolf.
 
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