Jayhawks Continue Strong Play at Marilynn Smith Invitational, Lead by 13
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Kansas women’s golf team built on last week’s strong play at the Cardinal Cup by taking the two-round lead in the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational at Colbert Hills Golf Course in Manhattan, Kan., Monday.
The Jayhawks, the defending Marilynn Smith Invitational champions, turned in another strong team effort to take a 13-stroke lead over host Kansas State heading into Tuesday’s final round of play. Three KU golfers are in the top-five after the first two rounds and a fourth is in a tie for 10th for the team-leading Jayhawks.
KU shot a tourney-low 303 in the morning round and answered that with a 299 in the afternoon round to record Monday’s only sub-300 round among the 15 teams competing.
“I’m very proud of our effort today,” KU head coach Erin O’Neil said. “Colbert Hills is a tough course, especially when it’s windy like it was today. If we had a bad hole, we didn’t let it get to us.”
Kansas sophomore Yupaporn “Mook” Kawinpakorn (72-74-146) sits in a tie for first place at +2 after finishing in second place last week at the Cardinal Cup. She is tied with Kansas State’s Gianna Misenhelter. KU Senior Meghan Potee is in sole possession of third place after carding back to back rounds of 75 Monday. Senior Thanuttra “Fhong” Boonraksasat (78-74) is in a tie for fourth place on the leaderboard at 152 and junior Minami Levonowich (78-76) is tied for 10th at 154.
“Anytime you have three players in the top five it’s a great day – Mook, Meghan, and Fhong did an outstanding job of leading the way for us,” O’Neil said. “The plan for tomorrow is to take it one step at a time, to give it all we’ve got and hopefully walk away with some hardware.”
The Jayhawks took the team lead about midway through the first round of play and held the lead for the rest of the day.
The team hopes to turn in another strong performance to take their first team title since October, 2012 at the Price’s “Give ‘Em Five” Intercollegiate in Las Cruces, N.M. Kawinpakorn is seeking the second individual tournament title of her career. She won previously at the Price’s “Give ‘Em Five” Intercollegiate last year.
The Jayhawks also sent two golfers to compete as individuals. Junior Gabby DiMarco (81-80) is tied for 27th at 161. Junior Michelle Woods (82-80) is tied for 37th at 162.
The Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational will conclude with 18 holes on Tuesday, September 24. The final round will commence with a shotgun start at 8:15a.m.
Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational
Colbert Hills golf Course * Manhattan, Kan. * Par-72
September 23-24 – 2 Round Results
Team Standings
1. KANSAS: 303-299-602
2. Kansas State: 313-302-615
3. Tulsa: 319-306-625
4. Arkansas State: 324-306-630
5. Oral Roberts: 320-313-633
6. New Mexico State: 314-324-638
7. Nebraska: 313-329-642
8. North Texas: 322-322-644
9. Colorado State: 326-320-646
10. UMKC: 328-324-652
11. Redlands CC: 330-330-660
12: Northern Iowa: 337-324-661
13. Wichita State: 334-328-662
14. Southern Illinois: 345-327-672
15. Creighton: 372-335-707
Top 10 Individuals: Par 72-72 (144)
T1. YUPAPORN KAWAINPAKORN, KANSAS: 72-74-146
T1. Gianna Misenhelter, Kansas State: 75-71-146
3. MEGHAN POTEE, KANSAS: 75-75-150
T4. THANUTTRA BOONRAKSASAT, KANSAS: 78-74-152
T4. McKenzie Ralston, North Texas: 77-75-152
T6. Lina Aguillon, Redlands CC: 75-78-153
T6. Olivia Eliasson, Kansas State: 78-75-153
T6. Courtney Manning, Arkansas State: 77-76-153
T6. Antonia VonWnuck, Tulsa: 80-73-153
T10. Alejandra Acosta, Oral Roberts: 79-75-154
T10. MINAMI LEVONOWICH, KANSAS: 78-76-154
Other KU Golfers
T30. Gabby DiMarco (Individual): 81-80-161
T38. Michelle Woods (Individual): 82-80-162
T44. Pornvipa Sakdee: 83-78-161
