JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. – Making just her second appearance in the Purdue Women's Golf lineup this season, Jade Gu recorded nine birdies and an eagle as part of a big day for the junior at the Briar's Creek Invitational. With rounds of 70 (-2) and 71 (-1), Gu (-3) led the Boilermakers in both rounds to sit in sixth place on the individual leaderboard.
Purdue made three eagles throughout the first two rounds Monday, while the rest of the 16 teams in the field combined for four. The Boilermakers also found success on the par 3s, playing the short holes 1-over to rank second in the field. With team rounds of 294 (+6) and 293 (+5), Purdue is in eighth (+11) with 18 holes remaining.
On her best day as a Boilermaker, Gu started with a roller coaster round in the morning that consisted of only six pars. Starting on No. 5, her first four holes featured back-to-back birdies sandwiched in between bogeys to make the turn at even par. She proceeded to par three of the next four holes before catching fire. Gu recorded four birdies in a five-hole stretch, including a pair of deuces on the back nine par 3s. Turning back to the front side, she holed out for eagle at the 343-yard par-4 first to move to 3-under and near the top of the leaderboard. With three pars and one bogey down the stretch, Gu secured her round of 70 and Purdue's best round of the day.
Gu's afternoon featured three birdies, all on par 4s. While only making two bogeys throughout the round, she carded her second under-par round of the day with a 71, moving to 3-under for the tournament and just outside the Top 5 in the 104-player field.
Ashley Kozlowski and Momo Sugiyama are tied for 15th at 1-over through two rounds. Kozlowski got off to a hot start, going 3-under through her first four holes that included an eagle on the par-5 seventh. A 39 (+3) on the back nine pushed Kozlowski back to even par before a bogey on her final hole completed her opening round of 73 (+1). She began her afternoon round with a birdie on the par-3 fourth, one of three birdies in round two to counter a trio of bogeys for a 72 (E). Kozlowski played the par 3s 2-under for the day, ranking second in par-3 scoring.
Sugiyama opened with a 74 (+2), taking advantage of the par 5s by going 2-under on the lengthy holes. She birdied two more par 5s in the second round, and despite a bogey, she ranked third in the field in par-5 scoring (-3). Sugiyama made five birdies during the afternoon, helping her fire a 1-under 71.
The Boilermakers have 18 holes to finish strong and move up the leaderboard. Tuesday's final round begins with a shotgun start at 8:45 a.m. ET. Purdue (+11) is paired with No. 10 Florida (+7), NC State (+8) and Boston College (+10).
For updates throughout tomorrow's final round, follow Purdue Women's Golf on Twitter @PurdueWGolf.
BOILERMAKERS
6. Jade Gu: 70-71—141 (-3)
T15. Ashley Kozlowski: 73-72—145 (+1)
T15. Momo Sugiyama: 74-71—145 (+1)
T81. Jocelyn Bruch: 77-79—156 (+12)
T93. Natasha Kiel: 79-80—159 (+15)
*T10. Jasmine Kahler: 72-71—143 (-1)
*Competing as an individual
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. Michigan State: 284-282—566 (-10)
2. Illinois: 284-288—572 (-4)
3. Rutgers: 291-290—581 (+5)
4. #17 UCF: 301-281—582 (+6)
5. #10 Florida: 290-293—583 (+7)
6. NC State: 291-293—584 (+8)
7. Boston College: 294-292—586 (+10)
8. Purdue: 294-293—587 (+11)
9. Campbell: 285-306—591 (+15)
10. Miami (FL): 294-298—592 (+16)
11. Nebraska: 296-298—594 (+18)
12. Georgetown: 293-302—595 (+19)
13. College of Charleston: 305-293—598 (+22)
14. Maryland: 299-300—599 (+23)
15. Penn State: 305-296—601 (+25)
16. Wisconsin: 299-304—603 (+27)
17. Old Dominion: 297-309—606 (+30)
Purdue made three eagles throughout the first two rounds Monday, while the rest of the 16 teams in the field combined for four. The Boilermakers also found success on the par 3s, playing the short holes 1-over to rank second in the field. With team rounds of 294 (+6) and 293 (+5), Purdue is in eighth (+11) with 18 holes remaining.
On her best day as a Boilermaker, Gu started with a roller coaster round in the morning that consisted of only six pars. Starting on No. 5, her first four holes featured back-to-back birdies sandwiched in between bogeys to make the turn at even par. She proceeded to par three of the next four holes before catching fire. Gu recorded four birdies in a five-hole stretch, including a pair of deuces on the back nine par 3s. Turning back to the front side, she holed out for eagle at the 343-yard par-4 first to move to 3-under and near the top of the leaderboard. With three pars and one bogey down the stretch, Gu secured her round of 70 and Purdue's best round of the day.
Gu's afternoon featured three birdies, all on par 4s. While only making two bogeys throughout the round, she carded her second under-par round of the day with a 71, moving to 3-under for the tournament and just outside the Top 5 in the 104-player field.
Ashley Kozlowski and Momo Sugiyama are tied for 15th at 1-over through two rounds. Kozlowski got off to a hot start, going 3-under through her first four holes that included an eagle on the par-5 seventh. A 39 (+3) on the back nine pushed Kozlowski back to even par before a bogey on her final hole completed her opening round of 73 (+1). She began her afternoon round with a birdie on the par-3 fourth, one of three birdies in round two to counter a trio of bogeys for a 72 (E). Kozlowski played the par 3s 2-under for the day, ranking second in par-3 scoring.
Sugiyama opened with a 74 (+2), taking advantage of the par 5s by going 2-under on the lengthy holes. She birdied two more par 5s in the second round, and despite a bogey, she ranked third in the field in par-5 scoring (-3). Sugiyama made five birdies during the afternoon, helping her fire a 1-under 71.
The Boilermakers have 18 holes to finish strong and move up the leaderboard. Tuesday's final round begins with a shotgun start at 8:45 a.m. ET. Purdue (+11) is paired with No. 10 Florida (+7), NC State (+8) and Boston College (+10).
For updates throughout tomorrow's final round, follow Purdue Women's Golf on Twitter @PurdueWGolf.
BOILERMAKERS
6. Jade Gu: 70-71—141 (-3)
T15. Ashley Kozlowski: 73-72—145 (+1)
T15. Momo Sugiyama: 74-71—145 (+1)
T81. Jocelyn Bruch: 77-79—156 (+12)
T93. Natasha Kiel: 79-80—159 (+15)
*T10. Jasmine Kahler: 72-71—143 (-1)
*Competing as an individual
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. Michigan State: 284-282—566 (-10)
2. Illinois: 284-288—572 (-4)
3. Rutgers: 291-290—581 (+5)
4. #17 UCF: 301-281—582 (+6)
5. #10 Florida: 290-293—583 (+7)
6. NC State: 291-293—584 (+8)
7. Boston College: 294-292—586 (+10)
8. Purdue: 294-293—587 (+11)
9. Campbell: 285-306—591 (+15)
10. Miami (FL): 294-298—592 (+16)
11. Nebraska: 296-298—594 (+18)
12. Georgetown: 293-302—595 (+19)
13. College of Charleston: 305-293—598 (+22)
14. Maryland: 299-300—599 (+23)
15. Penn State: 305-296—601 (+25)
16. Wisconsin: 299-304—603 (+27)
17. Old Dominion: 297-309—606 (+30)