PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – Despite battling 25-35 mph winds, Natasha Kiel (-3) and Jasmine Kahler (-2) fired the two best rounds in the 62-player field to lead Purdue Women’s Golf in the opening round of the White Sands Bahamas Invitational. Behind the pair of under-par rounds, the Boilermakers carded a 291 (+7) as a team to secure a 5-shot lead heading into Sunday’s final round.
The tournament was scheduled to begin on Friday, and a few holes were played before a torrential downpour forced the cancellation of the opening round, shortening the event to 36 holes. The par-4 seventh also had to be turned into a par 3 due to the full hole being unplayable, making the course a par 71 for the day. While the rain was gone on Saturday, the wind remained as the Ocean Club Golf Course showed its teeth. The scoring average was 77.89 with only three under-par rounds, two of them by Boilermakers.
Kahler and Kiel both played the par 4s 3-under to pace the field. Purdue made a team-high 13 birdies throughout the opening round, including 10 between the dynamic duo. Kahler’s six birdies were the most, while Kiel was second with four of her own. Purdue also led the field in par-3 scoring (+4) as a team.
Kiel carded the best round of the day by being one of two golfers to make only one bogey during the difficult conditions. She started her round with birdies on Nos. 9 and 11 to move to 2-under through her first seven holes. Her lone bogey followed at the par-3 12th, but the senior got the stroke back with another birdie at the par-5 16th. Knocking her approach shot to four feet on No. 7, Kiel rolled in the birdie putt to complete her round of 68 that put her at the top of the individual leaderboard.
Kahler’s six birdies led to a 2-under 69, her best round of the season. The sophomore shook off a double bogey to start her day, playing the final 17 holes 4-under par. She bounced back with birdies on four of the next eight holes to flip the script from 2-over to 2-under. Making a pair of birdies and bogeys over her last eight holes, Kahler remained under par to find herself in second place and one back of her teammate.
Freshman Samantha Brown carded a 75 (+4), while senior Momo Sugiyama added a 79 (+8) to contribute to the team score and help Purdue build its five-shot cushion.
The Boilermakers look to maintain their lead throughout Sunday’s final round, scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. ET. Nationally ranked foes No. 24 Baylor (+12) and No. 15 Texas A&M…
The tournament was scheduled to begin on Friday, and a few holes were played before a torrential downpour forced the cancellation of the opening round, shortening the event to 36 holes. The par-4 seventh also had to be turned into a par 3 due to the full hole being unplayable, making the course a par 71 for the day. While the rain was gone on Saturday, the wind remained as the Ocean Club Golf Course showed its teeth. The scoring average was 77.89 with only three under-par rounds, two of them by Boilermakers.
Kahler and Kiel both played the par 4s 3-under to pace the field. Purdue made a team-high 13 birdies throughout the opening round, including 10 between the dynamic duo. Kahler’s six birdies were the most, while Kiel was second with four of her own. Purdue also led the field in par-3 scoring (+4) as a team.
Kiel carded the best round of the day by being one of two golfers to make only one bogey during the difficult conditions. She started her round with birdies on Nos. 9 and 11 to move to 2-under through her first seven holes. Her lone bogey followed at the par-3 12th, but the senior got the stroke back with another birdie at the par-5 16th. Knocking her approach shot to four feet on No. 7, Kiel rolled in the birdie putt to complete her round of 68 that put her at the top of the individual leaderboard.
Kahler’s six birdies led to a 2-under 69, her best round of the season. The sophomore shook off a double bogey to start her day, playing the final 17 holes 4-under par. She bounced back with birdies on four of the next eight holes to flip the script from 2-over to 2-under. Making a pair of birdies and bogeys over her last eight holes, Kahler remained under par to find herself in second place and one back of her teammate.
Freshman Samantha Brown carded a 75 (+4), while senior Momo Sugiyama added a 79 (+8) to contribute to the team score and help Purdue build its five-shot cushion.
The Boilermakers look to maintain their lead throughout Sunday’s final round, scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. ET. Nationally ranked foes No. 24 Baylor (+12) and No. 15 Texas A&M…
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