Michigan
Big Ten Championships
Lau, Chun Tied for Fifth, U-M Third After Day One of B1G Championships
4/23/2021 8:10:00 PM | Women's Golf
» Michigan opened the Big Ten Championships with a 290 team tally and is third after the first day of play, just four shots out of the overall lead (Michigan State, 286, -2).
» Junior Ashley Lau and freshman Monet Chun each fired rounds of 71 (-1) and are tied for fifth individually.
» The first day had a two-hour frost delay as tee times were pushed back to a 10:30 a.m. start.
» U-M will be paired with MSU and Maryland for the second round, going off the first tee at 10:18 a.m.
Site: Maineville, Ohio
Tournament: Big Ten Championships (Day 1 of 3)
Course: TPC River's Bend (par 72, 6,300 yards)
U-M Team Standing: 3rd place of 13 teams (290) after Day 1
Top U-M Individual: Ashley Lau & Monet Chun, tie-5th (71, -1)
Next U-M Round: Saturday, April 24 -- at Big Ten Championships - Day Two (Maineville, Ohio), 10:18 a.m. (tee times)
MAINEVILLE, Ohio -- Using 71s (-1) from junior Ashley Lau and freshman Monet Chun, the 22-ranked and No. 2-seeded University of Michigan women's golf team posted an opening 290 team total Friday (April 23) and positioned the Wolverines third after day one of the Big Ten Championships at TPC River's Bend.
The Wolverines find themselves just four shots back of first-day leader Michigan State (286, -2) and three back of Maryland (287, -1). The trio will be paired with each other during the championships' second 18 holes on Saturday (April 24) at 10:18 a.m. off the first tee.
"We had a great front nine, which put us great position heading into the more challenging backside," said U-M head coach Jan Dowling. "The team stayed patient, and we know there is a ton of golf to play. We finished strong which gives us some good memories for a pivotal Sunday finish. All the players were in the round all day, which shows our depth and builds confidence."
In what has been billed as one of the strongest championships in year, the first day measured up. Playing as the No. 2 seed, the Wolverines had to wait an extra two hours before opening play due to a frost delay. Teeing off at 12:18 in the final pairings, the Maize and Blue posted 11 front-side birdies, led by sophomore Hailey Borja's three.
However, after making the turn, U-M saw opportunities slip away as they posted just one birdie, and nine bogeys, from all six starters on the first five holes of the back side. Despite those tallies, U-M still never slipped below the fourth spot. With Lau birdieing two of her final four holes including a strong eight-foot birdie on the 18th hole, the Wolverine started a mini rally to get back into the final pairings for the second round.
Chun used a long 25-foot birdie on the 18th to help the Michigan cause, while senior Ashley Kim sealed a third positioning with her eagle on the 18th. After bombing her driver, she pulled her three-wood and blasted it 233 yards and within 20 feet. Using her 58-degree wedge, she found the line and she chipped, watched it roll, hit the stick and fall for an eagle and give the Wolverines a 290 first round tally.
With three birdies for her 71 (-1), Lau is tied with teammate Chun, who had four birdies en route to her 71 (-1). Adding 74s from Kim, junior Sophia Trombetta and sophomore Mikaela Schulz, the Wolverines posted their seventh sub-292 team total (290) in the last eight team rounds.
Team Standings (After Day 1 of 3)
1. Michigan State 286 (-2) 2. Maryland 287 3. MICHIGAN 290 4. Northwestern 291 5. Nebraska 293 6. Purdue 295 7. Iowa 297 Penn State 297 9. Rutgers 298 10. Illinois 299 11. Minnesota 305 12. Wisconsin 310 13. Indiana 320
Top Individuals
1. Leila Raines, Michigan State 69 (-3) 2. Kan Bunnabodee, Purdue 70 Patricie Mackova, Maryland 70 Laura Van Respaille, Maryland 70 5. MONET CHUN, U-M 71 ASHLEY LAU, U-M 71 7. Megan Whittaker, Nebraska 72 Mathilde Delavallade, Penn State 72 Kate Smith, Nebraska 72 Daniela Ballesteros, Purdue 72 Yurika Tanida, Michigan State 72 Klara Wildhaber, Iowa 72 Paz Marfa, Michigan State 72 Xiaolin Tian, Maryland 72 Brooke Riley, Northwestern 72
Other Michigan Individuals
T24. Ashley Kim 74 T24. Mikaela Schulz 74 T24. Sophia Trombetta 74 T32. Hailey Borja 75
