KU Women's Golf Finishes Second In Team Effort

Meghan Gockel matched her season best and Tuesday team best with a final round 72.

Oct. 27, 2009

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – A team effort helped the Kansas women’s golf team make up 15 shots and improve from seventh place to second at the Edwin Watts/Palmetto Intercollegiate Tuesday.

The Jayhawks entered the final round in seventh place, 15 shots out of second place and 18 shots off the lead. KU posted a 294, the day’s best round and vaulted past five teams for a second-place finish. East Tennessee State won the tournament at 879, while KU’s 895 total edged five teams, which finished one to four strokes behind the Jayhawks.

“I am happy with how we played,” said Kansas Head Coach Erin O’Neil. We played real steady in the second and final round and you can’t ask for much more than making up 15 shots. That was very good for our confidence.”

The team effort included an even-par 72 from Meghan Gockel and identical 74s by Grace Thiry, Jennifer Clark and Meghna Bal. Emily Powers, who was KU’s top finisher in the tournament, tying for sixth place, did not have her final round score count towards the team total.

Powers, who opened the tournament with a 74 and a two-under par 70 and was tied for third-place on Monday, shot 77 on Tuesday. Powers placed in the top 10 for the third time in five fall events.

“Emily was in third place and then struggled with three bad holes Tuesday,” O’Neil said. “Everybody across the board played real steady though, and I was really proud of them. We were all on the same page.”

Gockel’s 72 came after rounds of 82 and 77 on Monday.

“Meghan put things together Tuesday and seems to have things figured out,” O’Neil said.

Thiry tied for 13^th after shooting 76-73-74—223. It was her best finish of the fall.

The tournament was the fall finale for the Jayhawks, who will not play again until February.

Palmetto Intercollegiate Final Results

Kiawah Island, S.C.

Oct. 26-27, 2009

Team Leaders (18 teams)

1. East Tennessee State 289-294-296—879

2. Kansas 306-295-294—895

3. Kennesaw State 297-297-302—896

4. East Carolina 295-303-299—897

5. Maryland 296-290-312—898

Individual Leaders

1. Jessie Hollandsworth, Maryland 69-68-76—213

2. Mallory Fraiche, Arkansas-L.R. 72-74-71—217

2. Sinead O’Sullivan, East Tenn. 74-69-74—217

4. Ana Maria Puche, E. Carolina 73-76-70—219

5. Ket Premchuen, Kennesaw St. 73-75-72—220

T6. Emily Powers, Kansas 74-70-77--221

Other Kansas Individuals

T13. Grace Thiry 76-73-74—223

T32. Jennifer Clark 79-75-74—228

T34. Meghna Bal 77-78-74—229

T42. Meghan Gockel 82-77-72--231