UK Women’s Golf Finishes Fifth out of 17 in Season Opener

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The University of Kentucky women’s golf team earned its best start to a season since 2019, finishing in fifth place at the Cougar Classic at Yeamans Hall Club in Charleston, South Carolina. Kentucky turned in a 2-over-par 286 scorecard in the final round Tuesday, helping produce a 20-under-par 832 tournament total.

The Wildcats’ tournament total of 832 (-20) marked the third best in program history, while their first round of 270 (-14) marked the second-best, 18-hole round in program history.

Each of UK’s four veterans in the lineup contributed at least two rounds of par-or-better, while its lone freshman recorded at least two rounds of even par in her college debut.

Coach chats about the Cats’ solid showing in the season opener, how a weather suspension can affect your momentum and our rookie’s college debut. 🙌#KWG pic.twitter.com/KZvEBNcaVx

— Kentucky Women’s Golf (@KentuckyWGolf) September 12, 2023

Despite Kentucky holding and sharing the lead on numerous occasions at the Cougar Classic, 2023 NCAA Championship teams crowded the top of the team leaderboard down the stretch. Ole Miss finished in first place at 36-under, LSU finished in second place at 31-under, Clemson finished in third place at 30-under and UCF finished in fourth place at 23-under.

Laney Frye also had her share of the lead for a moment in the final round.

The senior strung together a 64, 67 and 75 in the season opener, with her 64 (-7) marking the second-best, 18-hole round of her college career. In fact, the last round of her junior year (63, -9) and the first round of her senior year (64, -7) are her top two performances in Blue and White.

Frye, a senior from Nicholasville, Kentucky, assembled a 206 (-7) tournament total to finish in a tie for 12th place at the Cougar Classic. She extended her streak to four straight finishes inside the top 15, a series that dates back to the Clemson Invitational in March.

Just behind her, graduate students Jensen Castle and María Villanueva Aperribay put together consistent rounds in the final season openers of their college careers.

Castle logged a 67, 69 and 73 for a 209 (-4) tournament total and a share of 20th place, while Villanueva Aperribay went 68, 72 and 70 for a 210 (-3) and a tie for 28th place at the Cougar Classic.

It marked Castle’s lowest tournament total (in relation to par) since going 7-under for medalist honors at the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational last fall, while it marked Villanueva Aperribay’s lowest tournament total (in relation to par) since Spring 2021.

Marissa Wenzler also hung around par in Charleston, producing a 73, 69 and 70 for a 212 (-1) and a share of 34th place at the Cougar Classic. Her consistency was evident by her 42 pars, which was tied for the second-most pars of anyone in the 96-person field.

Competing in the first tournament of her college career, Brooke Oberparleiter contributed all three of her scores to the team tournament total. The rookie turned in two 71s and a 73 in the final round, producing a 215 (+2) to tie for 50th place.

The Wildcats are back in action at the Mason Rudolph Championship in Franklin, Tennessee, from Sept. 22-24 for their second of five tournaments this fall.

Scorecard
T12 Laney Frye 64, 67, 75 … 206 (-7)
T20 Jensen Castle 67, 69, 73 … 209 (-4)
T28 María Villanueva Aperribay 68, 72, 70 … 210 (-3)
T34 Marissa Wenzler 73, 69, 70 … 212 (-1)
T50 Brooke Oberparleiter 71, 71, 73 … 215 (+2)