Sept. 16, 2002
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The 21st-ranked Purdue women's golf team is tied for 10th after two rounds in the 2002 NCAA Preview. The Boilermakers shot a 312 on the second round for a two-day score of 612.
No. 7 Oklahoma State is in first place with a 594. No. 13 Vanderbilt is second with a 595, followed by No. 6 Arizona and No. 2 Duke, which are tied for second with 597s. No. 5 Texas is fifth with a 598.
The Boilermakers are hosting the 18-team tournament at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex, which will be the site of the NCAA Championship in May 2003. The Kampen Golf Course is a par 72, measuring 6,225 yards.
Junior Beth Hermes provided a bright spot for the Boilermakers, shooting a 73. She cut nine strokes off her first-round total and moved up 30 spots into a tie for 44th.
"I played a lot better today," Hermes said. "I felt uncomfortable yesterday, and it showed in my score. The key now will be to come back tomorrow and shoot another low round in order to help us move up as a team."
Senior Heather Zielinski, who shot a one-under-par 71 on the first day, carded a 77 on her second loop. She is now tied for eighth.
Senior Kari Damron finished with a 79 and is now tied for 18th. Classmate Heather Suhr shot an 83 and is tied for 75th, while junior Ella Asbun carded an 86 and is tied for 75th.
Purdue head coach Devon Brouse had hoped for a better performance from the Boilermakers, who finished the first day tied for seventh.
"Well 312 is not a good score, but maybe we were just hanging in," Brouse said. "Unfortunately we had to count an 83, and yesterday it was an 82."
Despite the high score, Brouse is hopeful for a good finish on the third and final round.
"Tomorrow we have to come out a little stronger and finish better," Brouse said. "It's important for us to put four scores together to have a good round."
Individually, Auburn's Celeste Troche leads the field with a 142. She shot a 72 on the second round.
Today's low round was turned in by Arizona's Miriam Kraschinski, who shot a two-under-par 70. She is now tied for third with a 145.
All 18 teams will tee off in a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m., on Tuesday, Sept. 17.
Purdue Scoring Day One Day Two Day Three TotalT8 Heather Zielinski 71 77 148T18 Kari Damron 71 79 150T44 Beth Hermes 82 73 155T75 Ella Asbun 76 86 162T80 Heather Suhr 82 83 165T10 TEAM 300 312 612