Wisconsin Badgers
Betsy Rawls Invitational (Texas)
Gerry's five-straight birdies highlight day for Badgers
October 31, 2011 | Women's Golf
Oct. 31, 2011
AUSTIN, Texas. -- Wisconsin senior Jessie Gerry put together one of the more impressive performances for the Badgers this season on Monday, helping UW to 13th place after 18 holes at the 54-hole Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational at UT Golf Course in Austin, Tex.
Gerry, who started on the back nine, strung together five-straight birdies to begin the front nine and added a sixth in her second-to-last hole to finish the opening round in third place overall with a 2-under-par 70. Her 6-under-par 30 on the backside was a personal best.
Gerry sits just two shots off the leader, Florida's Evan Jensen, and one shot behind Kent State's Mercedes Germino.
As a team, Wisconsin's top-four golfers shot a 15-over-par, 303, with the back and front nine holes treating the team to radically different fortunes.
All five Badgers competing teed off Monday on the back nine, where, as a team, they struggled, shooting 25-over. Wisconsin's fortunes shifted dramatically in the final nine holes, as the team shot a combined 2-under par.
Gerry's first-round score of 70 is tied for the second-best single round for the Badgers this season and marks the second time this year Gerry has hit 70. Sophomore Lindsay Danielson scored a 69 in the opening round of the Badger Invitational Sept. 25.
Following a trend that covers most of this season for the Badgers, junior Lindsay Danielson posted the second best score for Wisconsin. Danielson, who sat at 7-over through 13 holes, finished the final five with three birdies to end the day with a +4, 76.
Danielson is tied for 46th place in the tournament.
Sophomore Kris Yoo also put together a solid final nine to recover from a shaky start. Yoo finished the first nine holes at +5. Yoo then proceeded to match par over the final nine holes of the round to remain at 5-over, good for a tie at 51st place.
Freshmen Aaren Ziegler and Kimberly Dinh rounded out the scoring for Wisconsin. Ziegler stands in a tie for 69th place following an 8-over, 80. Dinh was 9-over-par, good for a tie for 74th place at 81.
The University of Florida leads all teams in the tournament, finishing the first round at 3-under par 285. Host Texas sits three shots off the lead at an even 288.
Oklahoma State, the highest ranked team coming into the tournament at No. 7 in the country, finished the first 18 in third place, two shots over par.
Wisconsin tees off Tuesday in the second round, before completing the tournament Wednesday with the final 18.
Badger Scores:
3: Jessie Gerry, +2, 70
T47: Lindsay Danielson, +4, 76
T51: Kris Yoo, +5, 77
T69: Aaren Zieger, +8, 80
T74: Kimberly Dinh, +9, 81
Team Leader Board
Course:The University of Texas Golf Club: Championship Tees Par 72 - 6344 yards
1 Florida -3 285
2 Texas E 288
3 Oklahoma State +2 290
T4 Tulsa +5 293
T4 Kent State +5 293
6 UNLV +7 295
T7 Pepperdine +9 297
T7 Iowa +9 297
9 Denver +10 298
T10 Arkansas +11 299
T10 New Mexico +11 299
12 Mississippi State +14 302
13 Wisconsin +15 303
14 Arizona +16 304
15 Princeton +27 315
