PITTSBURGH – Fox Chapel Golf Club proved to be a difficult course to tackle for Purdue Women's Golf on Saturday. The Boilermakers entered the second round in a tie for second, but a 299 (+15) dropped them back into eighth (+16) and 18 shots back heading into the final round of the Big Ten Championship.
Despite the tough day, Danielle du Toit grinded out a 72 (+1) to lead Purdue for the second straight day. After an opening-round 69 (-2) that put her in a tie for third, the senior started her second round on fire with three straight birdies. She vaulted to the top of the leaderboard at 5-under, holding a two-shot cushion. Du Toit made a pair of bogeys before a birdie at the ninth completed her front-nine 34 (-2). Running into trouble to begin the back, she recovered by going 1-under over the final six holes. A birdie on 18 pushed her back into red figures for the championship (-1) and into the top five heading into the final round. She continued to lead the field in birdies (12) as well as par-4 scoring (-2).
Inez Wanamarta added a 73 (+2) to remain in the top 15, tied for 13th at 2-over through 36 holes. The graduate's round featured a trio of birdies, all coming on the front nine.
As a team, the Boilermakers have totaled 29 birdies through two rounds, just one behind tournament leader No. 18 Michigan (30). The Wolverines shot 3-under, tying Northwestern for the low round of the day, that jumped Michigan State (+2) to take a four-shot lead into the final round.
Sophomore Ashley Kozlowski followed du Toit and Wanamarta, shooting 76 (+5) for the second consecutive day. Down the stretch, she parred her last seven holes to finish strong as the rest of the field made mistakes.
Purdue begins Sunday's final round at 8 a.m. ET. The Boilermakers will be paired with Nebraska (+15) and Wisconsin (+20).
For updates throughout the final round of the Big Ten Championship, follow Purdue Women's Golf on Twitter @PurdueWGolf.
BOILERMAKERS
T5. Danielle du Toit: 69-72—141 (-1)
T13. Inez Wanamarta: 71-73—144 (+2)
T51. Daniela Ballesteros: 72-79—151 (+9)
T55. Jocelyn Bruch: 73-79—152 (+10)
T55: Kan Bunnabodee: 74-78—152 (+10)
T55. Ashley Kozlowski: 76-76—152 (+10)
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. #18 Michigan: 285-281—566 (-2)
T2. Michigan State: 282-288—570 (+2)
T2. Northwestern: 289-281—570 (+2)
4. Illinois: 288-284—572 (+4)
T5. Maryland: 288-289—577 (+9)
T5. Ohio State: 289-288—577 (+9)
7. Nebraska: 294-289—583 (+15)
8. Purdue: 285-299—584 (+16)
9. Wisconsin: 299-289—588 (+20)
T10. Minnesota: 299-301—600 (+32)
T10. Penn State: 304-296—600 (+32)
12. Rutgers: 296-305—601 (+33)
T13. Iowa: 309-307—616 (+48)
T13. Indiana: 313-303—616 (+48)
Despite the tough day, Danielle du Toit grinded out a 72 (+1) to lead Purdue for the second straight day. After an opening-round 69 (-2) that put her in a tie for third, the senior started her second round on fire with three straight birdies. She vaulted to the top of the leaderboard at 5-under, holding a two-shot cushion. Du Toit made a pair of bogeys before a birdie at the ninth completed her front-nine 34 (-2). Running into trouble to begin the back, she recovered by going 1-under over the final six holes. A birdie on 18 pushed her back into red figures for the championship (-1) and into the top five heading into the final round. She continued to lead the field in birdies (12) as well as par-4 scoring (-2).
Inez Wanamarta added a 73 (+2) to remain in the top 15, tied for 13th at 2-over through 36 holes. The graduate's round featured a trio of birdies, all coming on the front nine.
As a team, the Boilermakers have totaled 29 birdies through two rounds, just one behind tournament leader No. 18 Michigan (30). The Wolverines shot 3-under, tying Northwestern for the low round of the day, that jumped Michigan State (+2) to take a four-shot lead into the final round.
Sophomore Ashley Kozlowski followed du Toit and Wanamarta, shooting 76 (+5) for the second consecutive day. Down the stretch, she parred her last seven holes to finish strong as the rest of the field made mistakes.
Purdue begins Sunday's final round at 8 a.m. ET. The Boilermakers will be paired with Nebraska (+15) and Wisconsin (+20).
For updates throughout the final round of the Big Ten Championship, follow Purdue Women's Golf on Twitter @PurdueWGolf.
BOILERMAKERS
T5. Danielle du Toit: 69-72—141 (-1)
T13. Inez Wanamarta: 71-73—144 (+2)
T51. Daniela Ballesteros: 72-79—151 (+9)
T55. Jocelyn Bruch: 73-79—152 (+10)
T55: Kan Bunnabodee: 74-78—152 (+10)
T55. Ashley Kozlowski: 76-76—152 (+10)
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. #18 Michigan: 285-281—566 (-2)
T2. Michigan State: 282-288—570 (+2)
T2. Northwestern: 289-281—570 (+2)
4. Illinois: 288-284—572 (+4)
T5. Maryland: 288-289—577 (+9)
T5. Ohio State: 289-288—577 (+9)
7. Nebraska: 294-289—583 (+15)
8. Purdue: 285-299—584 (+16)
9. Wisconsin: 299-289—588 (+20)
T10. Minnesota: 299-301—600 (+32)
T10. Penn State: 304-296—600 (+32)
12. Rutgers: 296-305—601 (+33)
T13. Iowa: 309-307—616 (+48)
T13. Indiana: 313-303—616 (+48)