Pittsburgh – Nebraska sophomore Michaela Vavrova scorched the back nine for a three-under-par 32 to storm to the top of the individual leader board after the opening round of the Big Ten Championship at Fox Chapel Golf Club on Friday.
The sophomore from Slovakia finished Friday’s opening round with 11 pars, five birdies and two bogeys on the 6,045-yard, par-71 layout at Fox Chapel. Vavrova was at her best on the back nine, putting up pars on holes 10 through 13 before back-to-back birdies on No. 14 and 15. After a par on No. 16, she added another birdie on the 185-yard par-3 before contributing her final par of the round on No. 18.
“It was an impressive round for Miska. Her play from tee to green was solid, and she made several clutch putts inside 10 feet,” Nebraska Head Coach Lisa Johnson said. “She has been working hard on both her technical and mental game, and that hard work shined through today.”
Vavrova’s big back nine helped the Huskers overcome a slow start on the front to stay within striking distance of the top teams through the first 18 holes of the 54-hole, three-day event. As a team, Nebraska closed the day at 294 (+10) to sit alone in eighth place. However, the Big Red sit just nine strokes out of second place, while the leaders from Michigan State put together the day’s best round at 282 (-2).
The Huskers were one of the first teams off the tee at 8:30 a.m. (CT) and through three holes their top-four golfers sat at a combined five-over-par in the six-count-four scoring format. They settled in to shoot five-over the next 15 holes.
Vavrova wasn’t the only Husker to close the day in the top 10. Fifth-year senior Kirsten Baete (Beatrice, Neb.) overcame some ups and downs throughout the round to end the day with an even-par 71 in a tie for ninth. Baete capped the first round with an eagle on the 537-yard par-5 18th hole. Her eagle joined four birdies (No. 2, 4, 7, 15) in helping her overcome a pair of double-bogeys and two more bogeys to make par at 71. She managed nine pars in the round.
“KB had an exciting finish when she holed out from 45 yards,” Johnson said. “Steady play by her, and we look for more good things from her to continue through the weekend.”
Senior Megan Whittaker (Elkhorn, Neb.) contributed Nebraska’s No. 3 score with a 77 (+6), while Vanessa Bouvet (France/Brunei) added NU’s final counting score with a 78 (+7).
Vavrova was joined at the top of the individual leader board by Michigan State’s Leila Raines, while Purdue’s Danielle DuToit and Maryland’s Maria Vittoria Corbi both sit one stroke back at 69 (-2). Four other golfers finished with opening rounds better than par, including Maryland’s Patricie Mackova, Michigan’s Sophia Trombetta and Monet Chun and Isabel Sy from Illinois, who all closed at one-under-par (70).
The Big Ten Championship continues Saturday with the second round beginning with tee times at 8:30 a.m. (CT). Live scoring is available from GolfStat.com.
Big Ten Championship
April 22-24, 2022
Pittsburgh, Pa. (Fox Champel Golf Club)
Par 71, 6,045 Yards
Team Standings (First Round)
1. Michigan State – 282 (-2)
T2. Purdue – 285 (+1)
T2. Michigan – 285 (+1)
T4. Illinois – 288 (+4)
T4. Maryland – 288 (+4)
T6. Ohio State – 289 (+5)
T6. Northwestern – 289 (+5)
8. Nebraska – 294 (+10)
9. Rutgers – 296 (+12)
T10. Wisconsin – 299 (+15)
T10. Minnesota – 299 (+15)
12. Penn State – 304 (+20)
13. Iowa – 309 (+25)
14. Indiana – 313 (29)
Individual Standings (First Round)
T1. Michaela Vavrova, Nebraska – 68 (-3)
T1. Leila Raines, Michigan State – 68 (-3)
T3. Danielle DuToit, Purdue – 69 (-2)
T3. Maria Vittoria Corbi, Maryland – 69 (-2)
T5. Patricie Mackova, Maryland – 70 (-1)
T5. Sophia Trombetta, Michigan – 70 (-1)
T5. Isabel Sy, Illinois – 70 (-1)
T5. Monet Chun, Michigan – 70 (-1)
T9. Kirsten Baete, Nebraska – 71 (E)
T9. Jennifer Cai, Northwestern – 71 (E)
T9. Rikke Nordvik, Rutgers – 71 (E)
T9. Katie Lu, Michigan State – 71 (E)
T9. Faith Choi, Ohio State – 71 (E)
T9. Valentina Rossi, Michigan State – 71 (E)
T9. Inez Wanamarta, Purdue – 71 (E)
Nebraska Individuals
T1. Michaela Vavrova – 68 (-3)
T9. Kirsten Baete – 71 (E)
T54. Megan Whittaker – 77 (+6)
T65. Vanessa Bouvet – 78 (+7)
T78. Nicole Hansen – 81 (+10)
82. Miu Takahashi – 82 (+11)
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