LAS VEGAS – The Purdue women's golf team began the NCAA Las Vegas Regional with a bang, firing a 284 (-4) to sit in third place, just one shot back of No. 19 Florida State (-5) in second and four shots behind clubhouse leader No. 9 Arkansas (-4). With 1-under 71s from the quartet of Jasmine Kahler, Natasha Kiel, Ashley Kozlowski and Momo Sugiyama, Purdue recorded the third-lowest NCAA Regional round in program history and the best since 2015. All four Boilermakers are tied for sixth on the individual leaderboard.
Through the opening round at Spanish Trail Country Club, Purdue is seven strokes ahead of No. 4 UCLA (+3), the top seed entering the tournament. Baylor (+4) rounds out the Top 5, while No. 16 Arizona and Oklahoma are tied for sixth at 6-over. Following three rounds of play, the Top 5 teams advance to play in the NCAA Championships at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California (May 17-22).
The Boilermakers dominated the par 5s, playing them 6-under Monday to pace the field in par-5 scoring. They also made 62 pars, tied for the most alongside No. 4 UCLA.
As the first Boilermaker on the course, Kiel set the tone with her under-par round. Following a double bogey at the par-4 16th, one of the toughest holes on the course, she rallied by playing the final 11 holes 3-under par and bogey free. Kiel bounced back with a birdie on No. 17 before birdies at No. 1 and No. 8 moved her into red figures.
Speaking of bouncing back, Kozlowski did just that after a tough start found the senior 3-over through five holes. An eagle from off the green at the par-5 18th sparked the comeback. Five straight pars followed, and she birdied another par 5 (No. 6) to get back to even par. Ending on the par-4 ninth, Kozlowski finished strong with another birdie. Playing the final 13 holes 4-under and bogey free resulted in her 1-under 71.
Kahler continued to thrive with a 71 of her own, one away from her career best. The Carlsbad, California, native made three birdies during her round, starting at the par-4 13th. She rolled in a 7-footer on No. 18 to head to the front side 1-under. The freshman's final nine featured seven pars, a bogey at No. 4, and a lengthy birdie putt at the par-5 sixth.
Finishing off a great day for Purdue, Sugiyama carded a 71 as the last Boilermaker on the golf course. She made five birdies, second-best in the field, starting on her opening hole. A 15-foot birdie putt dropped on No. 10, and she nearly holed her approach at the 13th for her second birdie of the day. Another birdie was sandwiched in between a bogey at No. 14 and a double bogey at No. 16, but an up-and-down from just short of the green at the 18th led to Sugiyama's fourth birdie on the back side. She birdied No. 1 for consecutive birdies before parring seven of the final eight holes to secure another under-par round.
Despite not counting, Jocelyn Bruch battled for a 76 (+4) due to one bad hole. The Boilermaker made 15 pars throughout her day, the most in the field, but a quadruple bogey at No. 16 prevented her from recording another low round for Purdue. She recovered by parring the final 10 holes.
Purdue begins the second round Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. ET off No. 1. As part of the leading trio, the Boilermakers will be paired with the Razorbacks and the Seminoles, looking to make a move to the top of the leaderboard.
For updates throughout the rest of the NCAA Las Vegas Regional, follow Purdue Women's Golf on Twitter @PurdueWGolf.
BOILERMAKERS
T6. Momo Sugiyama: 71 (-1)
T6. Natasha Kiel: 71 (-1)
T6. Jasmine Kahler: 71 (-1)
T6. Ashley Kozlowski: 71 (-1)
T44. Jocelyn Bruch: 76 (+4)
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. #9 Arkansas: 280 (-8)
2. #19 Florida State: 283 (-5)
3. Purdue: 284 (-4)
4. #4 UCLA: 291 (+3)
5. Baylor: 292 (+4)
T6. #16 Arizona: 294 (+6)
T6. Oklahoma: 294 (+6)
8. Colorado State: 298 (+10)
T9. Cal: 301 (+13)
T9. Kent State: 301 (+13)
11. Dartmouth: 302 (+14)
12. Xavier: 310 (+22)
Through the opening round at Spanish Trail Country Club, Purdue is seven strokes ahead of No. 4 UCLA (+3), the top seed entering the tournament. Baylor (+4) rounds out the Top 5, while No. 16 Arizona and Oklahoma are tied for sixth at 6-over. Following three rounds of play, the Top 5 teams advance to play in the NCAA Championships at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California (May 17-22).
The Boilermakers dominated the par 5s, playing them 6-under Monday to pace the field in par-5 scoring. They also made 62 pars, tied for the most alongside No. 4 UCLA.
As the first Boilermaker on the course, Kiel set the tone with her under-par round. Following a double bogey at the par-4 16th, one of the toughest holes on the course, she rallied by playing the final 11 holes 3-under par and bogey free. Kiel bounced back with a birdie on No. 17 before birdies at No. 1 and No. 8 moved her into red figures.
Speaking of bouncing back, Kozlowski did just that after a tough start found the senior 3-over through five holes. An eagle from off the green at the par-5 18th sparked the comeback. Five straight pars followed, and she birdied another par 5 (No. 6) to get back to even par. Ending on the par-4 ninth, Kozlowski finished strong with another birdie. Playing the final 13 holes 4-under and bogey free resulted in her 1-under 71.
Kahler continued to thrive with a 71 of her own, one away from her career best. The Carlsbad, California, native made three birdies during her round, starting at the par-4 13th. She rolled in a 7-footer on No. 18 to head to the front side 1-under. The freshman's final nine featured seven pars, a bogey at No. 4, and a lengthy birdie putt at the par-5 sixth.
Finishing off a great day for Purdue, Sugiyama carded a 71 as the last Boilermaker on the golf course. She made five birdies, second-best in the field, starting on her opening hole. A 15-foot birdie putt dropped on No. 10, and she nearly holed her approach at the 13th for her second birdie of the day. Another birdie was sandwiched in between a bogey at No. 14 and a double bogey at No. 16, but an up-and-down from just short of the green at the 18th led to Sugiyama's fourth birdie on the back side. She birdied No. 1 for consecutive birdies before parring seven of the final eight holes to secure another under-par round.
Despite not counting, Jocelyn Bruch battled for a 76 (+4) due to one bad hole. The Boilermaker made 15 pars throughout her day, the most in the field, but a quadruple bogey at No. 16 prevented her from recording another low round for Purdue. She recovered by parring the final 10 holes.
Purdue begins the second round Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. ET off No. 1. As part of the leading trio, the Boilermakers will be paired with the Razorbacks and the Seminoles, looking to make a move to the top of the leaderboard.
For updates throughout the rest of the NCAA Las Vegas Regional, follow Purdue Women's Golf on Twitter @PurdueWGolf.
BOILERMAKERS
T6. Momo Sugiyama: 71 (-1)
T6. Natasha Kiel: 71 (-1)
T6. Jasmine Kahler: 71 (-1)
T6. Ashley Kozlowski: 71 (-1)
T44. Jocelyn Bruch: 76 (+4)
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. #9 Arkansas: 280 (-8)
2. #19 Florida State: 283 (-5)
3. Purdue: 284 (-4)
4. #4 UCLA: 291 (+3)
5. Baylor: 292 (+4)
T6. #16 Arizona: 294 (+6)
T6. Oklahoma: 294 (+6)
8. Colorado State: 298 (+10)
T9. Cal: 301 (+13)
T9. Kent State: 301 (+13)
11. Dartmouth: 302 (+14)
12. Xavier: 310 (+22)