The 29th-ranked Kansas women’s golf team shot a 3-under 285 on Sunday in the Bahamas to surge into the lead at the White Sands Bahamas Fall Invitational, ultimately claiming the team title.
As a result, KU won a third straight event for the first time in program history.
After Friday’s competition got canceled due to weather, the Jayhawks, who were only the third-highest-ranked team at the competition, ended up tied for fourth place with Missouri after shooting 18-over on Saturday. But by achieving the only under-par round by any of the 10 teams on either day, they managed to pass No. 34 Purdue, No. 24 Baylor and No. 15 Texas A&M for the victory.
It followed titles in the Golfweek Red Sky Classic and Marilynn Smith Invitational earlier in the fall. The Jayhawks’ fall schedule now comes to a close after four events in total.
“What a tournament, what a trip and a once in a lifetime experience for these ladies,” head coach Lindsay Kuhle said in a press release. “We maintained the steady play all day long due to our exceptional ball striking and solid putting. We were strong in all areas today including ball striking, short game and putting which is key on a course like this in tough conditions. We knew we had a chance to win if we had four scores under par and that was our goal. We believed until the very end.”
Senior Lily Hirst was KU’s top finisher and finished in a tie for fourth place; over the course of the two rounds, she shot 2-over. Junior Amy DeKock had gone 9-over on the first day but flipped the script to lead the Jayhawks on day two with a 2-under 70. Lyla Louderbaugh, Lauren Clark and Johanna Ebner contributed for KU as well, while Jordan Rothman competed as an individual.
“Our team is good, and we enjoy the chase,” DeKock said in the release.