The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational
Women's Golf finishes sixth at Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational
10.30.2012 | Women's Golf
Oct. 30, 2012
AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas Women's Golf team (297-289-304=890, +26) concluded its fall season with a sixth-place showing in the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational at The University of Texas Golf Club Tuesday afternoon. Sophomore Bertine Strauss collected UT's top individual finish with a tie for 15th place at 3-over-par 219.
Despite cloudless skies and the warmest temperatures of the three-day event, wind played a factor in Tuesday's final round as gusts became more troublesome throughout the day in the Austin Hill Country. Final-round averages reached 75.50, up from Monday's average of 74.90.
Strauss (71-69-79) recorded a 7-over 79 that included five bogeys and two doubles. She had a pair of birdies on the fifth and 14th holes.
Senior Katelyn Sepmoree (74-74-74) continued her consistent play with her third 74 in as many days for Texas' lowest final round. Sepmoree finished tied for 27th place at 6-over 222. Senior Desiree Dubreuil (76-72-75) finished one stroke back to tie for 31st.
Seniors Haley Stephens (76-74-76=226) and Madison Pressel (76-74-80=230) rounded out Texas' five-player squad in ties for 42nd and 55th places, respectively.
Freshman Natalie Karcher saved her best round of the tournament for Tuesday with a 2-under 70 while competing as an individual for the Longhorns. Karcher scattered four bogeys on the third, ninth, 13th and 14th holes while giving back just two strokes with bogeys on five and 18. Karcher (72-78-70) tied for 19th place at 4-over 220.
Freshmen Taylor Kim (76-74-74=224) and Tezira Abe (75-76-81=232) finished tied for 35th and 60th places while also competing as individuals, and junior Alyssa Morgan (84-82-78=244) was 76th.
Florida (293-280-290=863) claimed the team title decided by the fifth individual score of the final round. Alabama (284-289-290) placed second and Arkansas (288-288-288=864) was third. The Gators' Camilla Hedberg took medalist honors after defeating the Tide's Jennifer Kirby in a one-hole, sudden-death playoff on 18.
Post-tournament Quotes
Texas Head Coach Martha Richards
On Texas' overall performance: I think overall we played a lot of good golf. I don't think our scores reflected that as much as we'd like to see. That's the hard part in golf. It's hard to feel good all the way around when your scored don't reflect it. I still saw a lot of really good things that our team is doing, and I think we just have to find a way to put together a whole tournament. We had two good days at Vanderbilt, two solid days here, and one good day at Stanford. We really just need to find a way to be more consistent and play at a higher level. When we play at the level we are capable of, we are a really good team. Overall though, I was very pleased with the golf I saw. We've just got to find a way to put it all together.
On the plan for the offseason: I think the biggest thing we have to do is get more competitive at everything we do. Whether it's playing basketball with putting trash in the trashcan fastest, or playing ping-pong, we need to be more competitive. I think we're a little to content with making sure everything looks perfect instead of just getting the golf ball in the hole. I think that is the nature of golf. The golf in this country is all about having the perfect golf swing and perfect approach. But in reality, golf isn't about being perfect. It's really about getting the golf ball in the hole. Everything we do this offseason will be about competition. We're going to get after it. Like I said, we're doing a lot of really good things, and I think (being more competitive) is the missing link. I love this group. They're a great group of girls. Now, if we can just get them to be a little more consistent, then we're going to be a really good team.
Senior Haley Stephens
On how much this tournament means to her: There's really no way to describe how amazing it is. When everyone comes out to support us, that's what makes it fun. I have so many friends that come out and watch us play. It means the world to us to see how much passion we get from the fans. There's no other tournament throughout my four years at Texas that has meant the most to me, and I think the people surrounding this tournament have everything to do with that.
On The University of Texas Golf Club: When all the teams come here, they tell us how gorgeous this course is, and it makes us take a step back and see how fortunate we are to be able to play here. This is by far one of the biggest productions you will see in any collegiate event. Nationals is probably the only tournament that really rivals the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational, and that is supposed to be a big event. I think that really speaks volume for what The University of Texas does for us and how much it means to them as well.
Sophomore Bertine Strauss
On the team's performance: I think we finished strong on the last day. We played well the first two days. We had a few big numbers in the beginning of the tournament, but the last day we fought hard and found a way to just get the ball in the hole.
On her performance: I think my nerves played a little part in my performance. I tried to not think about (being in contention). There's a lot we can learn from today. We just need to move forward and make the best out of it.
Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational
The University of Texas Golf Club (par 72; 6,344 yards)
Final-round Team Leaderboard
T1. Florida - 293-280-290=863 (-1)
T1. Alabama - 284-289-290=863 (-1)
3. Arkansas - 288-288-288=864 (E)
4. Arizona State - 290-286-293=869 (+5)
5. Tulsa - 298-288-297=883 (+19)
6. TEXAS - 297-289-304=890 (+26)
7. Denver - 294-296-302=892 (+28)
8. UCLA - 304-301-289=894 (+30)
9. Pepperdine - 307-295-295=897 (+33)
10. UNLV - 298-298-302=898 (+34)
11. Kent State - 300-298-303=901 (+37)
12. Auburn - 299-298-306=903 (+39)
13. TCU - 311-297-299=907 (+43)
14. New Mexico - 313-292-311=916 (+52)
15. Illinois - 312-317-298=927 (+63)
Final-round Individual Leaderboard
T1. Camilla Hedberg, Florida - 71-67-70=208 (-8)
T1. Jennifer Kirby, Alabama - 69-69-70=208 (-8)
T3. Erynne Lee, UCLA - 69-74-68=211 (-5)
T3. Stephanie Meadow, Alabama - 69-70-72=211 (-5)
5. Gabriela Lopez, Arkansas - 72-69-71=212 (-4)
6. Grace Na, Pepperdine - 71-70-72=213 (-3)
T7. Laura Blanco, Arizona State - 72-70-73=215 (-1)
T7. Tonje Daffinrud, Denver - 72-70-73=215 (-1)
T7. Noemi Jimenez, Arizona State - 73-71-71=215 (-1)
10. Isabelle Lendl, Florida - 73-71-72=216 (E)
Texas Players
T15. Bertine Strauss - 71-69-79=219 (+3)
T27. Katelyn Sepmoree - 74-74-74=222 (+6)
T31. Desiree Dubreuil - 76-72-75=223 (+7)
T42. Haley Stephens - 76-74-76=226 (+10)
T55. Madison Pressel - 76-74-80=230 (+14)
Texas Individuals
T19. Natalie Karcher - 72-78-70=220 (+4)
T35. Taylor Kim - 76-74-74=224 (+8)
T60. Tezira Abe - 75-76-81=232 (+16)
76. Alyssa Morgan - 84-82-78=244 (+28)
