Grimstad Enters Final Round Leading the Pack
TEAM | INDIVIDUAL | PAIRINGS
AUSTIN, Texas – In the thick of the competition heading into Sunday’s final 18 holes, the University of Miami golf team capped the opening day at the 46th Betsy Rawls Invitational tied for third at four-under 572.
Competing at the par 72, 6,353-yard University of Texas Golf Club, senior Renate Grimstad enters the final round of competition pacing the field at nine-under 135.
Joining Grimstad among the top-20 individuals, sophomore Anna Backman capped the first 36 holes tied for sixth at two-under-par, while Frydlova is tied for 16th at one-over 245.
“Renni is playing awesome,” Rizzo said. “She just needs to stay in her zone for the last round. I am so proud of her.
“The rest of the team also got it going in the second round. Anna and Kris did great,” Rizzo continued. “[Freshman Daniella Barrett] was a little off with her shots today. [Freshman Franziska Sliper] had it going so well, but it seemed the wheels fell off. Maybe a concentration issue with playing 36 holes, but maybe she also got a little excited after being five-under and just ended up getting ahead of herself. She is still in shock.”
As a team, the Hurricanes caught fire in the second round, climaxing at 15-under-par through 13 holes. Through 18, the Canes scored nine-under 279 and carded 22 birdies, the most of any team in the second round. Overall, Miami finished the afternoon with a current tournament-high 36 birdies.
“As I said last week, [the freshmen] are finding where their feet belong and will only go up from here,” Rizzo said. “I like a slow start and strong finish versus a strong start and a slow finish. Fingers crossed for a great day tomorrow and a great season ahead.”
Opening the morning on the eighth hole, it did not take long for Grimstad to collect her first birdie of the day. On the par-five, 520-yard ninth hole, the senior sunk the ball in four strokes and quickly moved atop the leaderboard.
Sitting at three-under, through seven holes, the Bergen, Norway, native had a rare set-back with a double-bogey on the par-four, 359-yard 15th hole. However, Grimstad quickly regrouped and rounded out the opening round with six birdies and tied for second at three-under 69.
The senior then caught fire in the second round, posting eight more birdies to close out the opening two rounds with a current tournament-high 14 birdies.
Just shy of her career-low of seven-under 65, Grimstad capped the second round with a six-under 66 and enters the final round at nine-under-par.
Entering the final round in a tie for sixth, Backman opened the morning with three birdies to finish even at 72.
Following a bogie to open the second round, the sophomore knocked in four birdies over a five hole stretch and finished the afternoon at two-under-par.
Rebounding from a slow start, including a pair of double bogies, Frydlova carded four second round birdies and posted a three-under 69, to enter the final round at one-over-par.
Rounding out the Hurricanes lineup, Barrett enters Sunday tied for 50th at nine-over 153, while Sliper sits in a tie for 59th at 11-over 155.
Sunday will begin with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. ET, with the Hurricanes pairing up with student-athletes from Maryland and Denver.
