Kauflin Leads Strong CMU Charge In Final Round

Sunday, February 27

Rio Verde, Ariz. / Rio Verde CC

10:30 a.m.

Central Michigan University

Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational

2/27/2022 7:02:00 PM | Women's Golf

By: Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com

RIO VERDE, Ariz. – A solid finish led by Rachel Kauflin's career-best performance propelled the Central Michigan women's golf team to a very strong showing at the Rio Verde Invitational at Rio Verde Country Club.

Led by Kauflin's even-par 72, the Chippewas shot a final-round 301 on Sunday to finish with a 913 team score and in seventh place in the 54-hole, 18-team event.

The Chippewas posted the best finish of the seven Mid-American Conference teams in the field. They finished 20 shots ahead of their nearest league brethren, Ball State and Eastern Michigan, who tied for 10^th at 933.

"We're definitely not walking away with our heads down after this event," said CMU coach Jim Earle, whose team opened on Friday with a 310 total and then rebounded with a 302 on Saturday to move from 11^th place to seventh.

The Chippewas' 913 team total and seventh-place finish are both far and away their best showing in their four-year history at the event. The Chippewas' previous bests were a 950 for a tie for 16^th in 2020.

"This event has traditionally just been pretty tough for us," Earle said. "We put together two really good rounds to close the tournament out and come away with a really good showing. To walk away as the lowest MAC school in a big event, I'm really proud of that. It's a step forward.

"Lot of individual victories in this tournament for us."

Kauflin, a sophomore from Wauwatosa, Wis., finished tied for 10^th with a career-best 5-over-par 221 total in the 92-player field. Her Sunday 72 matched her career best. Her 36-hole 149 was also a career best and her 221 ties for the fifth-best 54-hole score in program history.

Kauflin posted the highest finish among the 35 players from MAC schools.

"She made an adjustment in her putting before the start of the week and it paid off," Earle said. "She got more over the ball, and she just was rolling the rock. The golf course is so penal when you get it off the beaten path and she drove it great, she drove it straight. She was dynamite."

Kauflin ranked third in the field with 37 pars, and she carded six birdies in her 54 holes. Three of those birdies, against three bogeys, came on Sunday.

"She had a hot start today," Earle said. "She birdied a bunch of holes early, and she kept it together during the really tough stretch. Super impressive performance. The lowest MAC player in the event; that's a real feather in her cap. She played great."

CMU freshman Casilda Allendesalazar closed with a 3-over 75 to finish at 226 and tied for 19^th. Also for the Chippewas on Sunday, Ashley Goh shot 76, Claudia Salvador posted a 78, and Padgett Chitty carded an 82.

Salvador finished at 230 and tied for 37^th, while Goh finished at 236 to tie for 53^rd. Chitty finished at 243.

CMU's previous best individual finish in the 54-hole format came from Salvador in 2020, when she posted a 234 to tie for 46^th. Allendesalazar and Salvador also bested those numbers this season.