Kansas Concludes Fall Season with Victory at Palmetto Intercollegiate
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – Freshman Pornvipa Sakdee had the best performance of her short career as a Jayhawk to help lead the Kansas women’s golf team to its second team title of the fall season Monday at the Palmetto Intercollegiate in Kiawah Island, S.C.
Sakdee capped off her tournament with a 69 in the final round to finish tied for fourth with Georgia State’s Maria Palacios at 217 (+1) on the par-72, 5,972-yard Turtle Point Golf Course. Sakdee finished three strokes behind the individual medalist, Georgia State’s Melissa Siviter, and helped the Jayhawks finish with a three-stroke win as a team, prompting high praise from head coach Erin O’Neil.
“It was great to see Faii notch a top-5 finish and break 70 in the final round,” said O’Neil, who watched her team lead the event from start to finish. “The team played so well this week, led the tournament from beginning to end.”
All five Kansas golfers finished in the top-25 of the 99-player field, a feat not yet accomplished this season. The Jayhawks topped three teams ranked in Golfstat’s Top-50, including No. 47 GRU Augusta (901). No. 36 Illinois (902) and No. 42 College of Charleston (902), the tournament host.
Sophomore Yupaporn Kawinpakorn shot a final round 69 to match Sakdee for the team-low on Monday and recorded her third top-10 finish of the fall season with a tie for seventh. Senior Thanuttra Boonraksasat posted a low score in the tournament’s final round, carding a 70 to finish in a tie for 14th.
“Yupaporn and Thanuttra also went low for us in the final round which really helped seal the deal,” O’Neil said.
Junior Minami Levonowich finished in a tie for 11th to notch her fourth, top-15 finish of the fall season. Senior Meghan Potee finished in a tie for 22nd for her fourth top-25 finish in as many events.
The victory at the Palmetto Intercollegiate marks the second team title for the Jayhawks this season. Additionally, the Jayhawks finished in the top-4 in all five events played during the fall.
“I am so proud of what we have accomplished this fall and I am looking forward to taking it with us to the spring season,” O’Neil said.
The Jayhawks will return to action Feb. 14-16 in Tallahassee, Fla., at the 2014 Florida State Matchup.
Palmetto Intercollegiate
Turtle Point Golf Course * Kiawah Island, S.C. * Par 72
Top 5 Teams
1. KANSAS: 297-295-284—876 (+12)
2. Georgia State: 308-288-283—879 (+15)
3. East Tennessee State: 294-306-299—899 (+35)
4. GRU Augusta: 298-311-292—901 (+37)
T5. College of Charleston: 299-303-300—902 (+38)
T5. Illinois: 301-302-299—902 (+38)
Top 10 Individuals
1. Melissa Siviter, Georgia State: 77-70-67–214
T2. Laura Fuenfstueck, College of Charleston: 69-73-74—216
T2. Jessica Haigwood, GRU Augusta: 71-73-72—216
T4. Pornvipa Sakdee, Kansas: 74-74-69—217
T4. Maria Palacios, Georgia State: 76-72-69—217
6. Vivienne Chin, East Tennessee St.: 70-75-73—218
T7. Yupaporn Kawinpakorn, Kansas: 75-76-69—220
T7. Heidi Baek, Maryland: 72-80-68—220
T7. Lena Schaeffner, Coastal Carolina: 75-73-72—220
T7. Morgan Webber, College of Charleston: 74-73-73—220
