Monday, March 25
Debary, Fla. (Debary Golf & Country Club)
TBA
Central Michigan University
at
Babs Steffens Invitational
Rachel Kauflin shot 75-72 -- 147 on Monday during the first two rounds of the Babs Steffens Invitational in DeBary, Fla. She leads by one shot heading into Tuesday's final round.
Kauflin Holds 1-Shot Lead Heading Into Final Round at Stetson
3/25/2024 8:08:00 PM | Women's Golf
DeBARY, Fla. – Rachel Kauflin has been solid and steady in her four years as a member of the Central Michigan women's golf team.
With a good round on Tuesday, she could be a medalist for the first time.
Kauflin shot 3-over par 75-72 -- 147 on Monday and stands atop the leaderboard with a one-shot lead at the Stetson Babs Steffens Invitational at DeBary Golf and Country Club.
Two players, Casey Powell of Jacksonville and Salysa Mason of Seminole State, are one shot back of Kauflin, a senior from Wauwatosa, Wis., who is vying to become the fifth Chippewa to win a tournament since the program's resurrection in 2014-15.
"The message for her is to be really consistent, which is very similar to what it is every day," CMU coach Ryan Williams said. "I know it's a lot easier said than done, but hopefully we're in a good head space in the morning and she's ready to have some fun tomorrow."
Kauflin entered the tournament with the second-best scoring average (76.4) on the team. She has shot 76 or better 13 times in 25 rounds in the 2023-24 season.
Her second-round 72 on Monday was one shot off her career-best 71 she posted at the Shirley Spork EMU Invitational in October.
"As long as she is herself and plays the way she normally plays she has a really good chance," Williams said. "You've just got to get yourself comfortable with your position and kind of block out what's going on around you a little bit and play your own game.
"She needs to keep doing what she did (Monday) and not feel like she needs to do anything special (on Tuesday); just be herself and she'll be in a really good position at the end of the day."
Kauflin's best career finish was a second in the 2021 A-Ga-Ming Invitational in Kewadin. Her best finish this season was a T5 at The Judson, hosted by Southern Mississippi, in October.
Under the shotgun start format, Kauflin began her second round on hole No. 7 with a bogey, and then got hot, making consecutive birdies on holes 10-13. She then bogeyed 15, birdied 1, and made three bogeys in her final five holes.
She made one birdie against four bogeys on her opening ground.
The key, Williams said, was that Kauflin made nothing worse than a bogey over her 36 holes. Her six birdies tied for the second most in the 53-player field.
"It's the type of golf course that suits her game," Williams said. "She keeps it in play and plugs away. She was able to take advantage when she got some looks, and she was never really too out of position.
"It's a tight golf course with a lot of big numbers lurking and she kept them off her scorecard. She didn't have anything worse than a bogey and that's kind of what it takes out here."
The Chippewas opened with a 315 team score and then posted a second-round 322. They are in seventh place (637) in the nine-team field.
Host Stetson (313-299 – 612) leads the tournament by two shots over Seminole State (303-311 – 614).
CMU's Ashley Goh shot 79-79 – 158 and is tied for 23rd, while Lexi Schulman shot 78-84 – 162 and is tied for 34th. Also for the Chippewas, Rachel Niskanen shot 83-87 – 170 and Mackenzie Baustad shot 92-87 – 179. CMU's Alexis McMurray, playing as an individual, shot 93-84 – 177.
"It was a tough day out there," Williams said. "I think some lessons were learned. Tomorrow's another chance. If we can move up a few spots on the leaderboard that would be great.
"We just want to go out and play a good round tomorrow and leave here with a good taste in our mouths ready for the next month of the season."
With a good round on Tuesday, she could be a medalist for the first time.
Kauflin shot 3-over par 75-72 -- 147 on Monday and stands atop the leaderboard with a one-shot lead at the Stetson Babs Steffens Invitational at DeBary Golf and Country Club.
Two players, Casey Powell of Jacksonville and Salysa Mason of Seminole State, are one shot back of Kauflin, a senior from Wauwatosa, Wis., who is vying to become the fifth Chippewa to win a tournament since the program's resurrection in 2014-15.
"The message for her is to be really consistent, which is very similar to what it is every day," CMU coach Ryan Williams said. "I know it's a lot easier said than done, but hopefully we're in a good head space in the morning and she's ready to have some fun tomorrow."
Kauflin entered the tournament with the second-best scoring average (76.4) on the team. She has shot 76 or better 13 times in 25 rounds in the 2023-24 season.
Her second-round 72 on Monday was one shot off her career-best 71 she posted at the Shirley Spork EMU Invitational in October.
"As long as she is herself and plays the way she normally plays she has a really good chance," Williams said. "You've just got to get yourself comfortable with your position and kind of block out what's going on around you a little bit and play your own game.
"She needs to keep doing what she did (Monday) and not feel like she needs to do anything special (on Tuesday); just be herself and she'll be in a really good position at the end of the day."
Kauflin's best career finish was a second in the 2021 A-Ga-Ming Invitational in Kewadin. Her best finish this season was a T5 at The Judson, hosted by Southern Mississippi, in October.
Under the shotgun start format, Kauflin began her second round on hole No. 7 with a bogey, and then got hot, making consecutive birdies on holes 10-13. She then bogeyed 15, birdied 1, and made three bogeys in her final five holes.
She made one birdie against four bogeys on her opening ground.
The key, Williams said, was that Kauflin made nothing worse than a bogey over her 36 holes. Her six birdies tied for the second most in the 53-player field.
"It's the type of golf course that suits her game," Williams said. "She keeps it in play and plugs away. She was able to take advantage when she got some looks, and she was never really too out of position.
"It's a tight golf course with a lot of big numbers lurking and she kept them off her scorecard. She didn't have anything worse than a bogey and that's kind of what it takes out here."
The Chippewas opened with a 315 team score and then posted a second-round 322. They are in seventh place (637) in the nine-team field.
Host Stetson (313-299 – 612) leads the tournament by two shots over Seminole State (303-311 – 614).
CMU's Ashley Goh shot 79-79 – 158 and is tied for 23rd, while Lexi Schulman shot 78-84 – 162 and is tied for 34th. Also for the Chippewas, Rachel Niskanen shot 83-87 – 170 and Mackenzie Baustad shot 92-87 – 179. CMU's Alexis McMurray, playing as an individual, shot 93-84 – 177.
"It was a tough day out there," Williams said. "I think some lessons were learned. Tomorrow's another chance. If we can move up a few spots on the leaderboard that would be great.
"We just want to go out and play a good round tomorrow and leave here with a good taste in our mouths ready for the next month of the season."
Players Mentioned
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