Badger Golfers have Weather Woes in First Round NCAA Play
May 20, 2003 | Women's Golf
It wasn't the kind of start the Badgers wanted after appearing in their first NCAA Div. I Women's Golf Championship at Kampen Course at Purdue University in West Lafayette. Wisconsin endured driving wind and rain in the morning session and completed the first round at 52 over par with a 340 and in 23rd place in the 24-team field.
With temperatures in the 50's and winds howling to 28 mph gusts, Wisconsin's No. 1 player senior Katie Connelly, began the day at six over par after five holes and never really recovered shooting a 12 over par 42-42-84 tying for 92nd. Connelly was the NCAA Central Regional medalist last week with a 217.
No. 2 player junior Malinda Johnson, had only one birdie, but played the 6,225-yard layout in seven over par 39-42-79 to tie at 36th place in the 124 person field. Senior Carli Gregorin had a 43-44-87 and redshirt freshman Jackie Obermueller added a 42-48-90 to round out the team scoring. Freshman Lindsay McMillan recorded a 47-46-93.
'We got off to a slow start and progressively got worse, ' surmised Badger coach Dennis Tiziani. 'Conditions weren't great, but we've played in worse. All of the sudden they got a case of nerves and we just never recovered.
'A two-person team carried us most of the season, and those two didn't play their best. When it gets that cold, they can't even feel their fingers. No excuses. They are still having fun and talking about the best `come-from-behind' team to ever attend the meet. It's nothing short of remarkable that we are here, so I want them to enjoy the experience and take those positives into next season.'
Duke's Virada Nirapathpongporn and Annie Thurman of Oklahoma State took advantage of the milder afternoon weather to shoot even par 72 to tie for first round medal honors. Irene Cho of Southern Cal and host Purdue's Kari Damron tied at third with Allison Hanna of Ohio State and Kim Roston of Stanford with two-over par 74 's.
Southern California took the early team honors with a 17 over par 305. Oklahoma State was second at 308, and despite playing in the worst conditions, Ohio State was third team with a 21 over 309. Florida, a team UW beat at the regional was fourth at 313, and UCLA rounded out the top five with a 314.
Better conditions are predicted Wednesday when the Badgers tee off at 1 p.m. The 72-hole tournament concludes on Friday.
Live stats may be found on the Web at: http://www.golfstatresults.com/public/index.cfm'tournament_id=308
