Monday, February 5
New Braunfels, Texas (Landa Park Golf Course)
9:15 a.m.
Central Michigan University
at
Texas State Invitational
Senior Ashley Goh tied the CMU program record with a 68 in the second round on Monday at the Texas State Invitational. Goh enters Tuesday's final round tied for second, four shots back.
Tied for 2nd, Goh Squarely in the Hunt at Spring-Opening Texas State Invitational
2/5/2024 9:47:00 PM | Women's Golf
Senior ties program record with second-round 68; Chippewas tied for 7th in 14-team field
NEW BRAUNFALS, Texas – Not a bad start, considering it's the first tournament of the spring season.
Scratch that. A darned good start for Ashley Goh and, she hopes, a better finish on Tuesday.
Goh, a Central Michigan senior, shot a program record-tying 3-under par 68 in the afternoon round on Monday at the Texas State Invitational at Landa Park Golf Course.
Goh, who opened with a 4-over 75, heads into Tuesday's (9:15 a.m. ET) final round at 1-over 143 and in a four-way tie for second place in the 80-player field, four shots behind Hailey Jones of host Texas State.
Goh has contended many times throughout her brilliant CMU career. She has 12 career top 10s on her collegiate resumé, including a win at the Shirley Spork EMU Invitational in October, 2022.
"I think it's huge in that she has the confidence in that she's won before, and she's put really strong performances together," CMU coach Ryan Williams said. "What she does really well is just play composed and not let the moment get too big.
"She's got four shots to make up so it's not like she's going out there and being like, 'I've got to go for everything.' I think she's just trying to play her game. She doesn't really look at anyone around her which, honestly, is a good trait to have. I think that's why she's able to post so many good scores and so many good tournament results."
Goh led the Chippewas to a first-round 310 team total. The Chippewas posted a 315 in the afternoon round and are tied for seventh at 625 with Drake and UTEP.
Texas State, with five players in the top 10, shot 284-286 – 570 and holds a 35-shot lead over Abilene Christian and Sacred Heart. At No. 65, Texas State is the highest-ranked team in the field.
Goh's 68 was the best round of the day, and it ties the program record she holds with Casilda Allendesalazar. It is her fifth career round of 70 or better. She made five birdies against two bogeys in the second round after a she carded two birdies, four bogeys, and a double in her morning tour.
Her combined seven birdies are tied for the third most in the field. Her 36-hole, 143 total ties for the second best in program history. She set the mark with a 141 when she won at EMU in '22.
"There's some good teams playing in this tournament," Williams said. "And a really good team (Texas State) playing on the course that they play pretty regularly. It's a statement that (Goh) can play with the best of them and she keeps showing that. I'm excited for her to keep playing this way this spring and have a great season, a memorable one in her senior year.
"The 75, she struggled a little bit, you could tell she was fighting it a little bit at some points in the round. She was just kind of finding her rhythm. It was a windy day, and the ground is firm out there so it definitely took some thinking to play your way around the golf course. Smart players, they're going to be able to think their way around the golf course and that's exactly what she showed.
"She's incredibly smart; she just has such a good golf IQ that she's able to come back and play really well after having seen the course and seen the conditions and understanding what she needs to do."
CMU senior Rachel Kauflin is among a group tied for 14th place at 151. The steady Kauflin made 26 pars – tying for second most in the field -- en route to rounds of 75-76.
"She has a lot of the same things as (Goh) does when it comes to thinking and IQ on the golf course and that just shows that players like her can manage their way around courses under tough conditions," Williams said of Kauflin, who posted four top-20 finishes in CMU's five fall events. "She showed that maybe you may not have your best day, but she held it together and put a good number on the board for the team. She's been really reliable this year. I'm happy to see it and she's continuing to do it."
Also for the Chippewas, Alexis McMurray shot 78-85—163, Evanka Shah shot 82-86—168, and Mackenzie Baustad shot 82-88—170.
McMurray's 78 was her low round as a Chippewa. The sophomore is in her first season with CMU after transferring from Minnesota.
"Alexis has been struggling with her game a little bit this year and I think today was a big step in the right direction," Williams said. "I think she can take confidence away from today. It's another step on the path of getting back to playing golf the way she is used to playing it and it's a good sign for us; 78 is a good solid score on a windy, tricky golf course. She had a tough start and she held in there which showed us a lot."
Scratch that. A darned good start for Ashley Goh and, she hopes, a better finish on Tuesday.
Goh, a Central Michigan senior, shot a program record-tying 3-under par 68 in the afternoon round on Monday at the Texas State Invitational at Landa Park Golf Course.
Goh, who opened with a 4-over 75, heads into Tuesday's (9:15 a.m. ET) final round at 1-over 143 and in a four-way tie for second place in the 80-player field, four shots behind Hailey Jones of host Texas State.
Goh has contended many times throughout her brilliant CMU career. She has 12 career top 10s on her collegiate resumé, including a win at the Shirley Spork EMU Invitational in October, 2022.
"I think it's huge in that she has the confidence in that she's won before, and she's put really strong performances together," CMU coach Ryan Williams said. "What she does really well is just play composed and not let the moment get too big.
"She's got four shots to make up so it's not like she's going out there and being like, 'I've got to go for everything.' I think she's just trying to play her game. She doesn't really look at anyone around her which, honestly, is a good trait to have. I think that's why she's able to post so many good scores and so many good tournament results."
Goh led the Chippewas to a first-round 310 team total. The Chippewas posted a 315 in the afternoon round and are tied for seventh at 625 with Drake and UTEP.
Texas State, with five players in the top 10, shot 284-286 – 570 and holds a 35-shot lead over Abilene Christian and Sacred Heart. At No. 65, Texas State is the highest-ranked team in the field.
Goh's 68 was the best round of the day, and it ties the program record she holds with Casilda Allendesalazar. It is her fifth career round of 70 or better. She made five birdies against two bogeys in the second round after a she carded two birdies, four bogeys, and a double in her morning tour.
Her combined seven birdies are tied for the third most in the field. Her 36-hole, 143 total ties for the second best in program history. She set the mark with a 141 when she won at EMU in '22.
"There's some good teams playing in this tournament," Williams said. "And a really good team (Texas State) playing on the course that they play pretty regularly. It's a statement that (Goh) can play with the best of them and she keeps showing that. I'm excited for her to keep playing this way this spring and have a great season, a memorable one in her senior year.
"The 75, she struggled a little bit, you could tell she was fighting it a little bit at some points in the round. She was just kind of finding her rhythm. It was a windy day, and the ground is firm out there so it definitely took some thinking to play your way around the golf course. Smart players, they're going to be able to think their way around the golf course and that's exactly what she showed.
"She's incredibly smart; she just has such a good golf IQ that she's able to come back and play really well after having seen the course and seen the conditions and understanding what she needs to do."
CMU senior Rachel Kauflin is among a group tied for 14th place at 151. The steady Kauflin made 26 pars – tying for second most in the field -- en route to rounds of 75-76.
"She has a lot of the same things as (Goh) does when it comes to thinking and IQ on the golf course and that just shows that players like her can manage their way around courses under tough conditions," Williams said of Kauflin, who posted four top-20 finishes in CMU's five fall events. "She showed that maybe you may not have your best day, but she held it together and put a good number on the board for the team. She's been really reliable this year. I'm happy to see it and she's continuing to do it."
Also for the Chippewas, Alexis McMurray shot 78-85—163, Evanka Shah shot 82-86—168, and Mackenzie Baustad shot 82-88—170.
McMurray's 78 was her low round as a Chippewa. The sophomore is in her first season with CMU after transferring from Minnesota.
"Alexis has been struggling with her game a little bit this year and I think today was a big step in the right direction," Williams said. "I think she can take confidence away from today. It's another step on the path of getting back to playing golf the way she is used to playing it and it's a good sign for us; 78 is a good solid score on a windy, tricky golf course. She had a tough start and she held in there which showed us a lot."
Players Mentioned
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