Pittsburgh – Sophomore from Nebraska Michaela Vavrova burned the back nine for a three-under 32 to climb to the top of the individual standings after the Big Ten Championship opener at Fox Chapel Golf Club on Friday.
The second-year Slovakian finished Friday’s first round with 11 pars, five birdies and two bogeys on the 6,045-yard course and a par-71 at Fox Chapel. Vavrova was at her best on the back nine, paring on holes 10-13 before back-to-back birdies on numbers 14 and 15. After a par on number 16, she added another birdie on the par of 185 yards. -3 before contributing his last par of the inning on No. 18.
“It was an impressive round for Miska. Her game from tee to green was solid and she made several putts from under 10 feet,” the Nebraska head coach said. Lisa Johnson mentioned. “She worked hard on her technical and mental game, and that hard work came to fruition today.”
Vavrova’s big back nine helped the Huskers overcome a slow start up front to stay within striking distance of the top teams throughout the first 18 holes of the three-day, 54-hole event. As a team, Nebraska closed the day at 294 (+10) to sit alone in eighth place. However, the Big Red are only nine shots from second place, while leaders Michigan State posted the fastest lap of the day at 282 (-2).
The Huskers were one of the first teams off the tee at 8:30 a.m. (CT) and through three holes their top four golfers sat at a combined five-over-par in the six-count scoring format. four. They settled down to shoot five times over the next 15 holes.
Vavrova wasn’t the only Husker to close the day in the top 10. Fifth-year senior Kirsten Baete (Beatrice, Neb.) overcame ups and downs throughout the set to finish the day with an even par-71 tied for ninth place. Baete capped the first round with an eagle on the 537-yard par-5 18th hole. Her eagle joined four birdies (Nos. 2, 4, 7, 15) to help her overcome a pair of double bogeys and two more bogeys to par at 71. She had nine pars in the round.
“KB had an exciting finish when she dug in 45 yards,” Johnson said. “Steady play from her, and we expect more good things from her to continue throughout the weekend.”
Senior Megan Whittaker (Elkhorn, Neb.) contributed to Nebraska’s No. 3 score with a 77 (+6), while vanessa bouvet (France/Brunei) added the final score for NU with a 78 (+7).
Vavrova was joined at the top of the individual standings by Michigan State’s Leila Raines, while Purdue’s Danielle DuToit and Maryland’s Maria Vittoria Corbi are both at 69 (-2). Four other golfers finished with better-than-par opening rounds, including Patricie Mackova of Maryland, Sophia Trombetta and Monet Chun of Michigan, and Isabel Sy of Illinois, all of whom closed at one under par (70).
The Big Ten Championship continues Saturday with the second round beginning with tee times at 8:30 a.m. (CT). Live scoring is available on GolfStat.com.
Big Ten Championship
April 22-24, 2022
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Fox Champel Golf Club)
Par 71, 6,045 yards
Team classification (first round)
1. Michigan State – 282 (-2)
T2. Purdue – 285 (+1)
T2. Michigan-285 (+1)
T4. Illinois – 288 (+4)
T4. Maryland – 288 (+4)
T6. Ohio State – 289 (+5)
T6. Northwest – 289 (+5)
8. Nebraska – 294 (+10)
9. Rutgers- 296 (+12)
T10. Wisconsin- 299 (+15)
T10. Minnesota- 299 (+15)
12. Penn State – 304 (+20)
13.Iowa- 309 (+25)
14. Indiana – 313 (29)
Individual Classification (1st Round)
T1. Michaela VavrovaNebraska – 68 (-3)
T1. Leila Raines, Michigan State – 68 (-3)
T3. Danielle DuToit, Purdue – 69 (-2)
T3. Maria Vittoria Corbi, Maryland – 69 (-2)
T5. Patricia Mackova, Maryland – 70 (-1)
T5. Sophia Trombetta, Michigan – 70 (-1)
T5. Isabel Sy, Ill. – 70 (-1)
T5. Monet Chun, Michigan – 70 (-1)
T9. Kirsten BaeteNebraska – 71 (A)
T9. Jennifer Cai, Northwest – 71 (E)
T9. Rikke Nordvik, Rutgers – 71 (A)
T9. Katie Lu, Michigan State – 71 (A)
T9. Faith Choi, Ohio State – 71 (E)
T9. Valentina Rossi, Michigan State – 71 (A)
T9. Inez Wanamarta, Purdue – 71 (A)
Individuals from Nebraska
T1. Michaela Vavrova – 68 (-3)
T9. Kirsten Baete – 71 (E)
T54. Megan Whittaker -77 (+6)
T65. vanessa bouvet -78 (+7)
T78. Nicole Hansen – 81 (+10)
82. Miu Takahashi – 82 (+11)
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