Kuenster Takes 36-Hole Lead at Minnesota Invite at Minikahda; Gopher Women Fifth

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  MINNEAPOLIS – Behind sophomore Celia Kuenster, the University of Minnesota women’s golf team opened the 2015-2016 season in fifth place after 36 holes of the 2015 Minnesota Invitational at the Minikahda Club.

Kuenster carded a 4-under par 68 to open the championship Monday before firing an even par 72 during the second round to lead the field after two rounds at 4-under par 140.

A Mendota Heights, Minn., native, Kuenster carded one birdie on her front nine during the opening round Monday before drawing even with a bogey at the 12th. She would play the final six holes at 4-under par with an eagle and two birdies to tie a career-low 4-under par 68.

Kuenster carried her impressive play into the second round as she would card a birdie and one bogey over the first six holes before rattling off 12 straight pars to finish the opening day of competition on top of the leaderboard at 140, taking one-shot lead to the final round Tuesday.

Sophmore Sabrine Garrison carded rounds of 76 and 75, respectively, to finish tied for 26th after 36 holes to help lead the Gophers Monday, while fellow sophomore Heather Ciskowski opened the 2015-16 season with a 1-under par 71 before carding an 82 during the second round Monday to finish the first day of competition tied for 32nd at 153.

Purdue University holds a four-stroke lead over East Carolina heading into Tuesday’s final round as the Boilermakers carded a team score of 10-over par 586 Monday.

The 2015 Minnesota Invitational concludes Tuesday as the final round is scheduled to begin with a 9 a.m. shotgun start at the Minikahda Club.



2015 MINNESOTA INVITATIONAL
THE MINIKAHDA CLUB
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.
6,119 YARDS, PAR 72


MONDAY’S TEAM RESULTS
1. Purdue, 287-299—586
2. East Carolina, 301-289—590
3. Illinois, 289-303—592
4. Houston, 297-299—596
5. MINNESOTA, 292-305—597
6. Kent State, 289-309—598
T7. GRU-Augusta, 300-301—601
T7. Colorado, 300-301—601
9. Texas Christian, 295-308—603
10. Texas, 308-306—614
11. Kentucky, 310-307—617
12. Kansas, 314-312—626


MONDAY’S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
1. CELIA KUENSTER, MINNESOTA, 68-72—140
T2. Linn Andersson, Purdue, 71-70—141
T2. Esther Lee, Colorado, 71-70—141
T2. Frida Gustafsson Spang, ECU, 72-69—141
5. Bing Singhsumalee, Illinois, 66-76—142
6. Megan Thothong, Houston, 73-72—145
T7. Lisa Petterson, ECU, 76-70—146
T7. Jordan Chael, Kentucky, 73-73—146
T9. Josefine Nyqvist, GRU-Augusta, 72-75—147
T9. Wad Phaewchimplee, Kent State, 69-78—147
T9. August Kim, Purdue, 70-77—147

T26. SABRINE GARRISON, MINNESOTA, 76-75—151
T32. HEATHER CISKOWSKI, MINNESOTA, 71-82—153
T40. MUYU WU, MINNESOTA, 79-76—155
T49. NIAMH WARD, MINNESOTA, 74-83—157 (playing as individual)
T49. MAGGIE HEGGERSTON, MINNESOTA, 76-81—157
T59. MCKENZIE SEXE, KANSAS, 81-80—161 (playing as individual)
61. EMIE PERONNIN, MINNESOTA, 77-86—163
67. ALEXANDRA BUSKA, MINNESOTA, 99-85—184 (playing as individual)