PITTSBURGH – Led by a season-low 69 (-2) by senior Danielle du Toit, Purdue Women's Golf sits in a tie for second after 18 holes of play at the Big Ten Championship. The Boilermakers fired an opening-round 285 (+1) at Fox Chapel Golf Club Friday afternoon, just three-shots back of clubhouse leader Michigan State (-2).
Purdue golfers recorded 18 birdies throughout the first round, the most of any team in the field. The Boilermakers also out-played their opponents on the par 5s, going 5-under on the lengthy holes. Five Boilermakers birdied the par-5 second, getting the round off to a hot start and jumping to the top of the leaderboard early.
Du Toit recorded a field-best seven birdies during her round. She started her day with back-to-back birdies before finishing the front nine with three in-a-row. The Pretoria, South Africa, native made the turn at 4-under, and after dropping shots on 10 and 11, she bounced back to consecutive birdies at Nos. 14 and 15. Du Toit played the par 4s 3-under to lead the pack, finding herself in third and one shot off the individual lead.
Beginning her 45th tournament as a Boilermaker, Inez Wanamarta played steady on Friday. She tallied a pair of birdies to counter two bogeys, while the addition of 14 pars led to an even-par 71. Wanamarta birdied the second and did not make a bogey on the front side. Playing her final six holes 1-under, she got back to level par and into a tie for ninth after 18 holes.
Daniela Ballesteros shot her best round of the 2021-22 season, firing a 72 (+1). Her Big Ten Championship started with a birdie, and she ended her round with another one. Finishing up at the par-5 18th, Ballesteros threw a dart at the front pin that nearly spun back into the hole. She tapped in for an easy birdie to secure her lowest round of the year and to tie her career low as a Boilermaker.
Making her Big Ten Championship debut, redshirt-freshman Jocelyn Bruch contributed by carding a 73 (+2). She tallied three birdies throughout the day, while limiting mistakes to sit tied for 26th with 36 holes to go.
Purdue will look leapfrog the Spartans as two rounds remain to decide the conference champion. The Boilermakers begin their second round Saturday morning at 10:24 a.m. ET. Along with Michigan State, Purdue will also be paired with No. 18 Michigan (+1). The Boilermakers and Wolverines are tied for second, three shots ahead of Illinois (+4) and Maryland (+4).
For updates throughout the tournament, follow Purdue Women's Golf on Twitter @PurdueWGolf.
BOILERMAKERS
T3. Danielle du Toit: 69 (-2)
T9. Inez Wanamarta: 71 (E)
T16. Daniela Ballesteros: 72 (+1)
T26. Jocelyn Bruch: 73 (+2)
T33: Kan Bunnabodee: 74 (+3)
T46. Ashley Kozlowski: 76 (+5)
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. Michigan State: 282 (-2)
T2. Purdue: 285 (+1)
T2. #18 Michigan: 285 (+1)
T4. Illinois: 288 (+4)
T4. Maryland: 288 (+4)
T6. Northwestern: 289 (+5)
T6. Ohio State: 289 (+5)
8. Nebraska: 294 (+10)
9. Rutgers: 296 (+12)
T10. Minnesota: 299 (+15)
T10. Wisconsin: 299 (+15)
12. Penn State: 304 (+20)
13. Iowa: 309 (+25)
14. Indiana: 313 (+29)
Purdue golfers recorded 18 birdies throughout the first round, the most of any team in the field. The Boilermakers also out-played their opponents on the par 5s, going 5-under on the lengthy holes. Five Boilermakers birdied the par-5 second, getting the round off to a hot start and jumping to the top of the leaderboard early.
Du Toit recorded a field-best seven birdies during her round. She started her day with back-to-back birdies before finishing the front nine with three in-a-row. The Pretoria, South Africa, native made the turn at 4-under, and after dropping shots on 10 and 11, she bounced back to consecutive birdies at Nos. 14 and 15. Du Toit played the par 4s 3-under to lead the pack, finding herself in third and one shot off the individual lead.
Beginning her 45th tournament as a Boilermaker, Inez Wanamarta played steady on Friday. She tallied a pair of birdies to counter two bogeys, while the addition of 14 pars led to an even-par 71. Wanamarta birdied the second and did not make a bogey on the front side. Playing her final six holes 1-under, she got back to level par and into a tie for ninth after 18 holes.
Daniela Ballesteros shot her best round of the 2021-22 season, firing a 72 (+1). Her Big Ten Championship started with a birdie, and she ended her round with another one. Finishing up at the par-5 18th, Ballesteros threw a dart at the front pin that nearly spun back into the hole. She tapped in for an easy birdie to secure her lowest round of the year and to tie her career low as a Boilermaker.
Making her Big Ten Championship debut, redshirt-freshman Jocelyn Bruch contributed by carding a 73 (+2). She tallied three birdies throughout the day, while limiting mistakes to sit tied for 26th with 36 holes to go.
Purdue will look leapfrog the Spartans as two rounds remain to decide the conference champion. The Boilermakers begin their second round Saturday morning at 10:24 a.m. ET. Along with Michigan State, Purdue will also be paired with No. 18 Michigan (+1). The Boilermakers and Wolverines are tied for second, three shots ahead of Illinois (+4) and Maryland (+4).
For updates throughout the tournament, follow Purdue Women's Golf on Twitter @PurdueWGolf.
BOILERMAKERS
T3. Danielle du Toit: 69 (-2)
T9. Inez Wanamarta: 71 (E)
T16. Daniela Ballesteros: 72 (+1)
T26. Jocelyn Bruch: 73 (+2)
T33: Kan Bunnabodee: 74 (+3)
T46. Ashley Kozlowski: 76 (+5)
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. Michigan State: 282 (-2)
T2. Purdue: 285 (+1)
T2. #18 Michigan: 285 (+1)
T4. Illinois: 288 (+4)
T4. Maryland: 288 (+4)
T6. Northwestern: 289 (+5)
T6. Ohio State: 289 (+5)
8. Nebraska: 294 (+10)
9. Rutgers: 296 (+12)
T10. Minnesota: 299 (+15)
T10. Wisconsin: 299 (+15)
12. Penn State: 304 (+20)
13. Iowa: 309 (+25)
14. Indiana: 313 (+29)