Oct. 7, 2013
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- On separate coastlines on Monday, both WKU golf teams completed their first day of play at their respective tournaments.
For coach Ron Burchett's women's side, it was the UC Riverside-hosted Birdies for Breast Cancer charity event, held at the par-72, 5,860 yard Oak Quarry Golf Club in Riverside, Calif. Led by Ellinor Haag, who finished the day tied for second overall, the squad turned in a team score of 601 (298-303) and finished in a fourth place tie.
On the men's side, coach Phillip Hatchett's squad headed north for the Firestone Invitational, held at the par-72, 7,125 yard Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. Trey Aguirre paced the team, finishing in a tie for 11th overall while the team finished in 17th overall, carding a 611 team score.
Women's Golf:
With Haag's 139, including a career-low 68 in the second round, pacing the team, WKU finished the day eight strokes out of the top three. Haag's 68 was the lowest score of any golfer on the day, a round only three other golfers carded.
Michaela Bordeianu's 148 (75-73) put her in a tie for 9th overall, giving the Tops a pair of golfers in the top 10. April Butler turned in a 155 (75-80) to finish the day at No. 23 overall while Daniela Galassi added a 162 (77-85) to end the pair of rounds in a tie for 41st.
Rounding out the team grouping, McKenzie Smith tallied a 165 (83-82) on the day to finish at No. 48. Matching her and playing as an individual, Mallory Vaughn went 81-84.
The host school, UCR, ended the day with the top overall spot and individual in Brittani Ferraro. Three of UCR's golfers finished in the top 10, and as a team, UCR carded a 582 (290-292) to finish eight strokes ahead of California Baptist.
Men's Golf:
A blustery, cold day on the course led to higher than average scores for all teams with WKU carding a 35-over 611 (320-291) on the first two rounds in Akron.
Washington State took the top spot at 580 (289-291) overall while Kansas State's 588 (294-294) was good enough for the No. 2 spot.
Aguirre led the pack with his 145 (75-70) and was the only Hilltopper to finish in the top 50 in a crowded individual field. Cameron Beal's second round 68 helped him to a tie for 63rd on the day, carding a 154 overall. Taylor Thompson's 156 (80-76) planted him at No. 71 overall and Nick Thompson finished three strokes back with a 159 at No. 80 overall.
Brandon Beckham rounded out the team scoring with a 162 (85-77) to finish at No. 86.
Both squads will be back on the course tomorrow for the final round of their respective events.
