May 9, 2002
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - After one round of play at the NCAA Central Regional, the Purdue women's golf team is tied for third place with an 18-hole score of 309. The Boilermakers finished the first round at 21-over on Michigan State's Forest Akers West Golf Course.
Kent State is in the lead with a 304 (+16), followed by Oklahoma State with a 306 (+18). Baylor is tied with Purdue. Michigan State is one stroke behind, trailed by Ohio State (311) and Michigan (313).
Purdue coach Devon Brouse was pleased with the Boilermakers' first-round performance.
"We played well against some great competition," Brouse said. "We're right where we want to be. We just need to keep playing smart and stay focused over the next two rounds."
The 22nd-ranked Boilermakers were led by senior Christy Rittenhouse, who is currently in a three-way tie for second place. Rittenhouse recorded four birdies en route to firing a career-low, one-under-par 71. Her previous career-low mark was 73, last reached in the first round of the 2002 Big Ten Championships. Prior to today, Rittenhouse's stroke average this year was 80.1.
Classmate Caroline Laurens also turned in a solid performance, totaling a 75. She is tied for seventh.
Sophomore Beth Hermes shot an 81. Juniors Kari Damron and Heather Zielinski both carded 82s.
Baylor's Melanie Hagewood leads the 108-golfer field with a two-under-par 70.
Two more rounds await Purdue, which hosted the 2001 NCAA Central Regional and finished second. The Boilermakers are vying to finish as one of the top eight teams in the region, thereby gaining entry to the NCAA Championships in Auburn, Wash., from May 21 to 24.
PURDUE - NCAA CENTRAL REGIONAL FIRST ROUNDPlace Golfer ScoreT2nd Christy Rittenhouse 71 (-1)T7th Caroline Laurens 75 (+3)T48th Beth Hermes 81 (+9)T57th Kari Damron 82 (+10)T57th Heather Zielinski 82 (+10)T3rd TEAM 309 (+21)
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