UK Women’s Golf Bounces Back in Second Round of the Bryan
BROWNS SUMMIT, N.C. – With the momentum of the best stretch of the season gone, one of the most difficult courses on the collegiate level living up to its reputation and a talented field out in front, the Kentucky women’s golf team had one of two choices Friday afternoon at the Bryan National Collegiate: fold or fight back.
The Wildcats chose the latter.
After a difficult first round chocked full of adversity, UK bounced back admirably in the second round and jumped five spots in the afternoon. Following a tournament-opening 313, Kentucky’s highest score of the season, the Wildcats regrouped over the next 18 holes and shaved 17 shots off their score in the second round.
When the dust settled Friday, UK sat in 12th place at 33-over par. Junior Leonie Bettel continued her torrid play with a 74 in the opening round and a 72 in the second round. At 2-over par overall, she’s in a tie for ninth place.
Although Kentucky still has plenty of ground to make up in the final round – which, weather pending, is scheduled for Saturday morning – the Wildcats showed a lot of resolve in the afternoon that will serve itself well heading into the postseason in a couple weeks.
“We had a rough start to the tournament today,” UK head coach Golda Borst said. “Our girls were tight and weren’t able to execute like they normally do. I was pleased to see us bounce back in the second round. Most of them were able to limit their mistakes and make some more birdies. We will need to continue to build on our final round tomorrow morning and continue to play with the confidence that they showed this afternoon.”
In a field littered with some of the nation’s best teams – two teams are ranked in the top 10, six are in the top 25 and 11 of the 17 total teams are in the top 50 – UK is still within striking distance of some nationally ranked squads, including No. 26 Virginia (four strokes back) and No. 39 Notre Dame (10 strokes back). Moving past one or both would be important as the Wildcats try to boost their postseason profile.
No. 24 North Carolina leads No. 7 Furman by a shot. A look at the scores on the leaderboard – the Tar Heels are at 11-over par – reveals just how tough of a test the Champions Course is. Only two individuals, Wake Forest’s Emilia Migliaccio (3-under par) and North Carolina’s Kelly Whaley (1-under par), are in red numbers.
Playing at 6,386 yards this week, a par 72, the course yielded just two under-par scores a year ago.
As difficult as the Champions Course is playing, little seems to be slowing down Bettel these days. After trying for sixth place last month at the Clover Cup and then clinching a match-play victory over No. 16 Kent State on the second playoff hole last week, Bettel has followed it up by putting herself within five strokes of the leader.
In a tie for ninth, she’s seeking back-to-back top-10 finishes for the first time in her career.
“Leo played solid over both rounds,” Borst said. “She is striking the ball well and is managing her game around the golf course. She has played this golf course several times in the past and enjoys it, so it’s great to see her take advantage of her knowledge out here.”
Bettel tied for sixth as a member of NC State at least year’s Bryan, which tied last month’s Clover Cup showing as her best ever in a tournament. Bettel’s first round was rather consistent with a birdie, 14 pars and three bogeys. The junior from Austria rolled in four birdies in the second round, including two over her first two holes, for an even-par 72.
Senior Isabelle Johansson’s day summed up both the unforgiving nature of the course as well as the Wildcats’ resiliency. Johansson had seven holes of bogey or worse in the first round for 79, an uncharacteristic stretch for one of the most decorated golfers in school history, and then followed with a score of 6-over par over the first six holes of the second round.
At that point Johansson was at 13-over par and buried well back in the field. She didn’t give up, however, and played the final 12 holes of the day at 5-under par to get back to 8-over par and in a tie for 43rd. Included in that magnificent stretch were three birdies and an eagle.
Sophomore Sarah Shipley, in a tie for 53rd, opened with an 80 because of three double bogeys in the first round but battled back valiantly in the second round with a 2-over-par 74. Her afternoon 18 holes featured three birdies.
Seniors Grace Rose and Ale Walker are within a shot of each other at 13-over par and 14-over par, respectively. Rose is tied for 66th and Walker is tied for 69th, but both have the ability to make a comeback this weekend. Rose has a team-high-tying three top-20 finishes to her name, and Walker tied for 13th at the Clover Cup last month.
UK is coming off an important match-play victory over No. 16 Kent State and a season-best third-place finish at the Clover Cup. With two weeks until the Southeastern Conference Championship, UK is hoping to continue its last-season momentum as it seeks its seventh NCAA regional appearance in eight seasons under Borst.
The final round is scheduled to tee off with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, but there is a 100 percent chance of rain overnight and into the morning. If the course is unsuitable for play, the final round will be moved to Sunday.
Live scoring will continue to be available at Golfstat.com.
Opened in 1990 under the design of world-renowned golf course architect Rees Jones, seven holes at the Champions Course border the scenic Lake Townsend. Ranked in 1990 as the runner-up for the best new public course in the country by Golf Digest, the course has since been ranked nationally each year by major golf publications, including Golfweek’s best courses you can play in 2010.
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