Three Wildcats Improve Rounds at Blessings Collegiate Invitational

Update to release on Oct. 4 at 4:15 p.m. ET: The third round was canceled because of weather. Scores at the conclusion of the second round (through 36 holes) are considered final.

“Well, the Blessings certainly got the best of us this week,” said head coach Golda Borst. “We knew coming in it would be a great test, and we felt prepared to take it on. There are no excuses to how we played, and we will use this performance to fuel us for our next tournament. We have to be able to shake this off and get in the right mindset for the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational at the Governors Club. This is golf, and the Blessings exposed some of our weaknesses. We will learn from it, and move forward. One tournament doesn’t define us but it can teach us a great deal, and we learned a lot!”

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Laney Frye fired off five birdies in the second round of the Blessings Collegiate Invitational, earning a 2-under to sit in ninth place of the elite field Tuesday. Meanwhile, the No. 15 University of Kentucky women’s golf team earned a 15-over in the second round, eight shots improved from the first round, forming a 38-over for the tournament for 10th place.

The Wildcats will tee off the 10th tee at 10:45 a.m. ET in the final round Wednesday. Golf Channel will continue its coverage of the unique tournament tomorrow from 4:30-7:30 p.m. ET.

Three Wildcats improved their score from the first round, including @laneyfrye who jumped to the top 10 on the individual leaderboard with just 18 holes remaining. 👏⛳️#KWG pic.twitter.com/loOr6w2UDt

— Kentucky Women’s Golf (@KentuckyWGolf) October 4, 2023

Frye, a senior from Nicholasville, Kentucky, continue to pace the Blue and White, assembling a tournament-total, even-par 144 through 36 holes.

She improved her first-round 74 to a second-round 70, which helped her jump almost 10 spots on the individual leaderboard, sitting in ninth place ahead of the final round.

While the All-American is 10 shots off the leader, which is occupied by host Arkansas’ Maria Jose Marin, she is just two strokes shy of the top five.

Frye is pacing in the right direction after converting two bogeys from Monday into birdies Tuesday, including the par-5 No. 5 and the par-3 No. 13. Her second round included just three bogeys, but five birdies, including going even par on the front nine and 2-under on the second nine.

The Wildcat is in the hunt for her sixth straight finish inside the top 15 on the individual leaderboard, a streak that she started in Spring 2023. Moreover, she is seeking her second straight finish inside the top 10 and her fifth in the last six college tournaments.

Frye wasn’t the only Wildcat to improve her first-round score to her second-round score.

Marissa Wenzler, a graduate student, and Brooke Oberparleiter, a freshman, also capitalized on their familiarity with the golf course in the second round.

Wenzler shed three strokes off her first round, submitting an impressive 2-over Tuesday. The Wildcat managed to par the last 10 holes of her second round. She boasts a 7-over for the tournament, sitting in a tie for 33rd place.

Meanwhile, Oberparleiter, who is playing in just the third tournament of her college career, shed four strokes off her second round to record a 3-over Tuesday, despite overcoming a double on the par-5 No. 15. The rookie is 12-over through 36 holes, holding down 40th place.

Graduate students María Villanueva Aperribay and Jensen Castle both came in 10-over Tuesday. Villanueva Aperribay is 17-over for the tournament, sitting in a tie for 46th place, while Castle is 19-over at the event, holding down 49th place with 18 holes to go.

While fans are encouraged to watch the tournament live on Golf Channel, they can also keep up with live scoring here.

Scorecard
9 Laney Frye 74, 70 … 144 (E)
T33 Marissa Wenzler 78, 75 … 153 (+9)
40 Brooke Oberparleiter 80, 76 …156 (+12)
T46 María Villanueva Aperribay 79, 82 … 161 (+7)
49 Jensen Castle 81, 82 … 163 (+19)

For the latest on the Kentucky women’s golf team, follow the team on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as on the web at UKathletics.com.