Kawinpakorn Places Second at the Palmetto Intercollegiate

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – Kansas women’s golfer Yupaporn Kawinpakorn placed second as KU finished fifth at the Palmetto Intercollegiate at Turtle Point Golf Course in Kiawah Island, South Carolina on Tuesday.
 
Kawinpakorn recorded the low score of Tuesday’s final round with a career-low-tying 68 (-4) and finished one-stroke behind Lena Schaeffner from Coastal Carolina for individual honors. Kawinpakorn shot a three-round 213 (-3), while Schaeffner ended with a 212 (-4) in the 104-golfer field.
 
Kawinpakorn continues to have a stellar collegiate career as Tuesday’s 68 tied her career best while at KU and marked the third time she has shot in the 60’s this season. Kawinpakorn now placed in the top five three times in five tournaments played this fall, including runner-up finishes in each of her last two tourneys.
 
“Mook (Kawinpakorn) had an outstanding tournament and we are very proud of her.” Kansas coach Erin O’Neil said. “She has worked extremely hard on her game and it’s great to see that pay off.”
 
Kansas ended fifth with a three-round score of 897 (+33). The Jayhawks have placed fifth or better in every tournament this fall. Coastal Carolina won the Palmetto Intercollegiate by 12-strokes with a three-round 866 (+2). Second place GRU Augusta shot an 878 (+14), followed by Furman at 879 (+15), South Florida at 891 (+27) and Kansas in the 20-team field.
 
KU sophomore Pornvipa Sakdee finished tied for 20^th for the tournament with an overall score of 223 (+7). Sakdee shot a final round 79 (+7). Senior Minami Levonowich carded a 77 (+5) in her final round as she placed tied for 46^th with a 231 (+15).  Senior Michelle Woods shot an 82 (+10) Tuesday as she finished the tournament tied for 69^th with a three round score of 236 (+20) and senior Gabriella DiMarco carded an 84 (+12), finishing tied for 87^th with an overall score of 240 (+24).
 
“Today was a rough day for us.” O’Neil said about the teams struggles. “We were struggling off the tee which led to us making too many big numbers that we couldn’t recover from in the end. It’s never a good feeling to move down the leaderboard especially on the final round.”
 
However, Coach O’Neil was proud of the team overall how they have competed this season.

“Overall we had a good fall finishing in the top-five of all of our events but we certainly have some areas we need to improve upon in the off season in order to be prepared for all of our spring competitions.”
 
The Palmetto Intercollegiate was the Jayhawks’ final tournament of the fall. Their next event will be at the All State Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate in New Orleans, Louisiana, Feb. 22-24.
 
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