Tuesday, October 31
Hattiesburg, Miss. (Hattiesburg Country Club)
9:30 a.m.
Central Michigan University
at
The Judson
Senior Rachel Kauflin finished with a career-best 218 to help lead the CMU women's golf team on Tuesday at The Judson in Hattiesburg, Miss.
Goh, Kauflin Finish Strong as Women's Golf Closes Fall Portion of Season
10/31/2023 6:56:00 PM | Women's Golf
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – A pair of career bests for Central Michigan on the final day of the fall season, and perhaps a jumping-off point into the spring.
Central Michigan's Ashley Goh shot an even-par 72 to finish tied for second and teammate Rachel Kauflin carded a 1-over 73 to tie for fifth on Tuesday during the final round of The Judson women's golf tournament at Hattiesburg Country Club.
Both Chippewa seniors finished the two-day, 54-hole tournament with career bests, Goh a 215 and Kauflin a 218. Goh finished at 1-under and two shots back of medalist Lou Deltombe of Tarleton State.
"Extremely proud of Ash and Rachel," second-year CMU coach Ryan Williams said. "They played really, really well over the last two days; it was fun to watch. They were in control the entire time, just playing their own games and taking it one shot at a time, which is great and it's all you can ask for as a coach."
Goh and Kauflin led the Chippewas to a 302 team score on Tuesday for a 907 total and a tie for seventh place with North Alabama in the 12-team field. CMU shot 302-303 in the first two rounds on Monday.
"We put a solid performance together," said Williams, whose team opens the spring portion of its schedule at the Feb. 5-6, 2024, Texas State Invitational. "We hung tough and played right with some pretty good competition and it's good to see. We gained a lot from this trip and I'm really happy with where we're at and where we're headed into the spring season."
CMU senior Mackenzie Baustad closed with a 78 on Tuesday to finish at 236 and tied for 50th; freshman Rachel Niskanen carded a final-round 81 to finish tied for 55th at 240; and freshman Lexi Schulman shot 79, her best round of the tournament, for a 241 total and a tie for 57th.
Goh's 215 total eclipsed her previous 54-hole career low of 217 she set at the Mid-American Conference Challenge in Lakewood Ranch, Fla. in February, 2021.
Her second-place finish was her highest since she won the Shirley Spork EMU Invitational in October, 2022.
Goh tied for second in the 66-player field with 11 birdies over the 54 holes. She was one of seven players to record an eagle in the event.
"I wasn't putting well at Eastern, I wasn't making any putts," Goh said, referring to a tournament at Eastern Michigan in early October, in which she shot 221 to tie for eighth. "And I just kept consistently practicing putting and it showed results at this tournament.
"Mindset wise I think it's just keeping my head in the game and not getting ahead of myself and not setting my expectations too high. That makes me stressed and it doesn't always end well. It's still a learning curve and there's definitely a lot of room for improvement.
"That makes me feel better about myself and it's going to push me to work harder for next spring to see what I can achieve. I'm excited for the spring already."
Telling, Williams said, of Goh's maturity as a player was her ability to, in golf parlance, get it around on Tuesday when she wasn't necessarily at her best.
"Today Ash didn't hit it as well as she normally does, but she got up and down a bunch of times and it shows she has a ton of tools and she can get it done in a lot of different ways," he said.
Kauflin, who previous best, a 221, came in February, 2022 at the Rio Verde (Ariz.) Invitational, is putting together the best year of her career and has established herself as the Chippewas' solid No. 2 player in the lineup behind Goh.
"It's definitely a great way to end the fall season and it leaves me motivated and excited," Kauflin said. "I'm looking forward to getting some rest, but also looking forward to the spring."
Kauflin made six birdies over 36 holes on Monday, recording a 36-hole 145 total, the best of her career. She had two birdies against three bogeys on Tuesday.
"At the times when my ball striking did falter, my short game was there and I made some good up and downs, especially today," Kauflin said. "It was really a fun couple of days battling the course, battling the elements. I'm really happy with my performance and I'm really proud of the team as well for closing out the fall on the good note."
Central Michigan's Ashley Goh shot an even-par 72 to finish tied for second and teammate Rachel Kauflin carded a 1-over 73 to tie for fifth on Tuesday during the final round of The Judson women's golf tournament at Hattiesburg Country Club.
Both Chippewa seniors finished the two-day, 54-hole tournament with career bests, Goh a 215 and Kauflin a 218. Goh finished at 1-under and two shots back of medalist Lou Deltombe of Tarleton State.
"Extremely proud of Ash and Rachel," second-year CMU coach Ryan Williams said. "They played really, really well over the last two days; it was fun to watch. They were in control the entire time, just playing their own games and taking it one shot at a time, which is great and it's all you can ask for as a coach."
Goh and Kauflin led the Chippewas to a 302 team score on Tuesday for a 907 total and a tie for seventh place with North Alabama in the 12-team field. CMU shot 302-303 in the first two rounds on Monday.
"We put a solid performance together," said Williams, whose team opens the spring portion of its schedule at the Feb. 5-6, 2024, Texas State Invitational. "We hung tough and played right with some pretty good competition and it's good to see. We gained a lot from this trip and I'm really happy with where we're at and where we're headed into the spring season."
CMU senior Mackenzie Baustad closed with a 78 on Tuesday to finish at 236 and tied for 50th; freshman Rachel Niskanen carded a final-round 81 to finish tied for 55th at 240; and freshman Lexi Schulman shot 79, her best round of the tournament, for a 241 total and a tie for 57th.
Goh's 215 total eclipsed her previous 54-hole career low of 217 she set at the Mid-American Conference Challenge in Lakewood Ranch, Fla. in February, 2021.
Her second-place finish was her highest since she won the Shirley Spork EMU Invitational in October, 2022.
Goh tied for second in the 66-player field with 11 birdies over the 54 holes. She was one of seven players to record an eagle in the event.
"I wasn't putting well at Eastern, I wasn't making any putts," Goh said, referring to a tournament at Eastern Michigan in early October, in which she shot 221 to tie for eighth. "And I just kept consistently practicing putting and it showed results at this tournament.
"Mindset wise I think it's just keeping my head in the game and not getting ahead of myself and not setting my expectations too high. That makes me stressed and it doesn't always end well. It's still a learning curve and there's definitely a lot of room for improvement.
"That makes me feel better about myself and it's going to push me to work harder for next spring to see what I can achieve. I'm excited for the spring already."
Telling, Williams said, of Goh's maturity as a player was her ability to, in golf parlance, get it around on Tuesday when she wasn't necessarily at her best.
"Today Ash didn't hit it as well as she normally does, but she got up and down a bunch of times and it shows she has a ton of tools and she can get it done in a lot of different ways," he said.
Kauflin, who previous best, a 221, came in February, 2022 at the Rio Verde (Ariz.) Invitational, is putting together the best year of her career and has established herself as the Chippewas' solid No. 2 player in the lineup behind Goh.
"It's definitely a great way to end the fall season and it leaves me motivated and excited," Kauflin said. "I'm looking forward to getting some rest, but also looking forward to the spring."
Kauflin made six birdies over 36 holes on Monday, recording a 36-hole 145 total, the best of her career. She had two birdies against three bogeys on Tuesday.
"At the times when my ball striking did falter, my short game was there and I made some good up and downs, especially today," Kauflin said. "It was really a fun couple of days battling the course, battling the elements. I'm really happy with my performance and I'm really proud of the team as well for closing out the fall on the good note."
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