The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational
Strauss fires 1-under 71 in first-round action at Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational
10.28.2012 | Women's Golf
Oct. 28, 2012
AUSTIN, Texas -- Sparked by a 2-over-par team score on the back nine at The University of Texas Golf Club, the Longhorns closed first-round action at the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational at 9-over 297 to finish the day in sixth place. Sophomore Bertine Strauss was one of 10 players to fire a below par round and is tied for fifth place at 1-under 71.
Making her debut in Texas' home tournament, Strauss teed off in chilly conditions and quickly heated up her scorecard when she sank a 25-foot birdie putt on the first hole. Two holes later, Strauss encountered her first of two bogeys. After eight-straight pars, her second bogey came at 12. A pair of birdies on 15 and 17 - both par 4s - put Strauss in the clubhouse at 71.
Senior Katelyn Sepmoree finished three strokes behind Strauss and is tied for 27th at +2. Sepmoree matched Strauss' team-high three birdies with subpars on five, seven and 14, but was set back by three bogeys (eight, 11, 13) and a double bogey at 16.
Seniors Haley Stephens, Madison Pressel and Desiree Dubreuil carded rounds of 76 and are tied for 39th place.
Freshman Natalie Karcher led Texas' four individuals with an even-par 72 to tie for 11th place. Freshmen Tezira Abe (75) and Taylor Kim (76) are tied for 34th and 39th places, respectively, and junior Alyssa Morgan (84) finished the day tied for 77th.
Defending national champion Alabama leads the 15-team field at 4-under 288. Arkansas (288) and Arizona State (290) round out the top three teams.
Tulsa's Shu-Yin Liu holds the individual lead at 4-under 68. Three players are tied for second place with scores of 69.
POST-ROUND QUOTES
Texas Head Coach Martha Richards
On today's round: We got off to a slow start. I'm not sure if we were nervous or cold or what it was, but other than Haley's tough first hole and Desiree's tough No. 6, we played the front pretty well. Overall, I'm really pleased with what I saw in terms of playing all 18 holes.
We didn't let a bad hole get to us. It would've been easy for both Haley and Desiree to have downward spirals and let their rounds spiral down, but that shows the maturity they've got and how they've grown as players here. Neither of them let one bad hole define their rounds and they made nice comebacks.
I think we're capable of more, but we're not completely out of it. We played a lot of good golf today. If we play like we're capable of the next two days, we can make things interesting.
Sophomore Bertine Strauss
On today's round: There wasn't anything specific that stood out, instead, I think I just had a good, solid round. I hit fairways, I hit greens and I made a few putts along the way. I'd call it a boring round, nothing great, but it's a good start.
On playing at Texas' home course: It's great to get off to a good start at home, especially after last weekend at Stanford. It's a great feeling to play in your home event and it's an opportunity that only comes around once a year. It's easy to get `up' for these three rounds.
Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational
The University of Texas Golf Club (par 72; 6,344 yards)
First-round Team Leaderboard
1. Alabama - 284 (-4)
2. Arkansas - 288 (E)
3. Arizona State - 290 (+2)
4. Florida - 293 (+5)
5. Denver - 294 (+6)
6. TEXAS - 297 (+9)
T7. UNLV - 298 (+10)
T7. Tulsa - 298 (+10)
9. Auburn - 299 (+11)
10. Kent State - 300 (+12)
11. UCLA - 304 (+16)
12. Pepperdine - 307 (+19)
13. TCU - 311 (+23)
14. Illinois - 312 (+24)
15. New Mexico - 313 (+25)
First-round Individual Leaderboard
1. Shu-Yin Liu, Tulsa - 68 (-4)
T2. Jennifer Kirby, Alabama - 69 (-3)
T2. Erynne Lee, UCLA - 69 (-3)
T2. Stephanie Meadow, Alabama - 69 (-3)
T5. Erin Hawe, Kent State - 71 (-1)
T5. Camila Hedberg, Florida - 71 (-1)
T5. Bertine Strauss, Texas - 71 (-1)
T5. Daniela Ordonez, Arizona State - 71 (-1)
T5. Emily Tubert, Arkansas - 71 (-1)
T5. Grace Na, Pepperdine - 71 (-1)
Additional Texas Players
T27. Katelyn Sepmoree - 74 (+2)
T39. Haley Stephens - 76 (+4)
T39. Madison Pressel - 76 (+4)
T39. Desiree Dubreuil - 76 (+4)
Texas Individuals
T11. Natalie Karcher - 72 (E)
T34. Tezira Abe - 75 (+3)
T39. Taylor Kim - 76 (+4)
T77. Alyssa Morgan - 84 (+10)
