HAVRE DE GRACE, Md. – Led by a 1-under 71 from Momo Sugiyama, Purdue Women's Golf carded a 292 (+4) to land in fifth place following 18 holes at the Big Ten Championships. The Boilermakers made 80 pars during the opening round at Bulle Rock Golf Course, more than any other team in the tournament, to remain consistent and within striking distance with two rounds left to play.
Sugiyama recorded one of only 12 under-par rounds on the par 72 track, placing her in a tie for sixth on the individual leaderboard. No putts were falling for the junior on the front side, as she made eight pars and a lone bogey to make the turn at 1-over. Her bogey at the fifth became her only miscue of the day. Sugiyama played the final 13 holes bogey free, making two birdies on the back nine to move into red figures. She got back to level par with a deuce at the par-3 12th, and following five straight pars, she rolled in a birdie from off the green at No. 18 to secure an under-par day.
Natasha Kiel shot 73 (+1), jumping off to a fast start with a bogey-free 34 (-2) on the front nine. After seven straight pars, Kiel reached the par-5 eighth in two which led to her first birdie of the day. She made a long birdie putt at No. 9, moving to 2-under and to the top of the leaderboard through her opening nine. However, Kiel could not find any birdies on the back side. Following a bogey at No. 11 and a double bogey at No. 12, she righted the ship with six straight pars to end her round.
Another 73 was posted by Jocelyn Bruch to contribute to the team score. The senior began the day with a bang, draining at birdie at the first. She was even making the turn before a bogey at the par-5 11th. Bruch got the stroke back by taking advantage of the short, par-4 14th for her second birdie of the day. Her 1-over round has her tied for 16th alongside Kiel.
Jade Gu and Jasmine Kahler both added 75s (+3). Gu made a team-high three birdies throughout the opening round, all coming within the first six holes to grab an early share of the lead. The Yardley, Pennsylvania, native birdied the first hole before suffering a double bogey at the second. She got both shots back with consecutive birdies on No. 4 and No. 5 to get into red figures once again. Two bogeys, as well as a double bogey on the final hole, dropped Gu to 3-over and into a tie for 33rd with Kahler.
In just her second tournament in the Purdue lineup, Kahler battled her way through the par 72 course. Despite not making a birdie, she parred her final 12 holes to join Sugiyama as the only Boilermakers to record a bogey-free back nine. Kahler's 16 pars in the opening round ranked second in the 84-player field.
Purdue begins the second round Saturday morning at 9:24 a.m. ET off No. 1. The Boilermakers will be paired with Indiana (E) and Wisconsin (+7).
For updates throughout the rest of the tournament, follow Purdue Women's Golf on Twitter @PurdueWGolf.
BOILERMAKERS
T6. Momo Sugiyama: 71 (-1)
T16. Natasha Kiel: 73 (+1)
T16. Jocelyn Bruch: 73 (+1)
T33. Jasmine Kahler: 75 (+3)
T33. Jade Gu: 75 (+3)
T60. Ashley Kozlowski: 78 (+6)
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. Michigan State: 279 (-9)
2. #9 Northwestern: 287 (-1)
T3. Michigan: 288 (E)
T3. Indiana: 288 (E)
5. Purdue: 292 (+4)
6. Wisconsin: 295 (+7)
T7. Maryland: 298 (+10)
T7. Ohio State: 298 (+10)
9. Iowa: 300 (+12)
T10. Nebraska: 301 (+13)
T10. Minnesota: 301 (+13)
T10. Illinois: 301 (+13)
13. Rutgers: 305 (+17)
14. Penn State: 309 (+21)
Sugiyama recorded one of only 12 under-par rounds on the par 72 track, placing her in a tie for sixth on the individual leaderboard. No putts were falling for the junior on the front side, as she made eight pars and a lone bogey to make the turn at 1-over. Her bogey at the fifth became her only miscue of the day. Sugiyama played the final 13 holes bogey free, making two birdies on the back nine to move into red figures. She got back to level par with a deuce at the par-3 12th, and following five straight pars, she rolled in a birdie from off the green at No. 18 to secure an under-par day.
Natasha Kiel shot 73 (+1), jumping off to a fast start with a bogey-free 34 (-2) on the front nine. After seven straight pars, Kiel reached the par-5 eighth in two which led to her first birdie of the day. She made a long birdie putt at No. 9, moving to 2-under and to the top of the leaderboard through her opening nine. However, Kiel could not find any birdies on the back side. Following a bogey at No. 11 and a double bogey at No. 12, she righted the ship with six straight pars to end her round.
Another 73 was posted by Jocelyn Bruch to contribute to the team score. The senior began the day with a bang, draining at birdie at the first. She was even making the turn before a bogey at the par-5 11th. Bruch got the stroke back by taking advantage of the short, par-4 14th for her second birdie of the day. Her 1-over round has her tied for 16th alongside Kiel.
Jade Gu and Jasmine Kahler both added 75s (+3). Gu made a team-high three birdies throughout the opening round, all coming within the first six holes to grab an early share of the lead. The Yardley, Pennsylvania, native birdied the first hole before suffering a double bogey at the second. She got both shots back with consecutive birdies on No. 4 and No. 5 to get into red figures once again. Two bogeys, as well as a double bogey on the final hole, dropped Gu to 3-over and into a tie for 33rd with Kahler.
In just her second tournament in the Purdue lineup, Kahler battled her way through the par 72 course. Despite not making a birdie, she parred her final 12 holes to join Sugiyama as the only Boilermakers to record a bogey-free back nine. Kahler's 16 pars in the opening round ranked second in the 84-player field.
Purdue begins the second round Saturday morning at 9:24 a.m. ET off No. 1. The Boilermakers will be paired with Indiana (E) and Wisconsin (+7).
For updates throughout the rest of the tournament, follow Purdue Women's Golf on Twitter @PurdueWGolf.
BOILERMAKERS
T6. Momo Sugiyama: 71 (-1)
T16. Natasha Kiel: 73 (+1)
T16. Jocelyn Bruch: 73 (+1)
T33. Jasmine Kahler: 75 (+3)
T33. Jade Gu: 75 (+3)
T60. Ashley Kozlowski: 78 (+6)
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. Michigan State: 279 (-9)
2. #9 Northwestern: 287 (-1)
T3. Michigan: 288 (E)
T3. Indiana: 288 (E)
5. Purdue: 292 (+4)
6. Wisconsin: 295 (+7)
T7. Maryland: 298 (+10)
T7. Ohio State: 298 (+10)
9. Iowa: 300 (+12)
T10. Nebraska: 301 (+13)
T10. Minnesota: 301 (+13)
T10. Illinois: 301 (+13)
13. Rutgers: 305 (+17)
14. Penn State: 309 (+21)