Fortushniak Leads K-State to Solid Opening Rounds at Westbrook
Feb 23, 2020 | Women's Golf
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Heather Fortushniak turned in a nearly flawless scorecard - with only one bogey in each of her two rounds - while leading K-State with a career-best 36-hole score and a top-20 position after the opening day of competition at the Westbrook Invitational Sunday. K-State was in sixth at 6-under 570 after posting its second- and third-best team rounds of the season on Westbrook's par-72, 6,252-yard Vistas Course.
Fortushniak used rounds of 70 (-2) and 71 (-1) to post a 3-under 141, the best two-round tally of the sophomore from Brighton, Michigan's still blossoming K-State career. She led all Wildcats in an individual tie for 17th, just two shots out of the top-10. As a team, K-State shot a 284 (-4) in the opening round and 286 (-2) in the second to sit just two strokes out of the top-5 in the 16 team field.
Oklahoma led Ole Miss by a stroke for the team lead at 25-under 551, while Denver's Anna Zanusso fired a course-record 61 (-11) in the second round to climb into a one shot lead with 18 holes to play.
"We're really pleased with the ladies, they did a nice job," K-State head coach Kristi Knight said. "They gave themselves opportunities which is all I can ask. I know a couple of girls wish they would've holed more putts, but really pleased with the patience on the golf course. They were giving themselves looks at birdie. The very few times I saw us hit one out of play, just really proud of how they responded. They didn't carry it around with them, they let that shot go and kept moving. There was a lot of good out there today. I know there's three teams at the top that went really low today, but we're up in the position to have a really good tournament and the ladies know."
Fortushniak was the most solid Wildcat throughout the first 36 holes, using a birdie to open the tournament and 15 bogey free holes before a double threatened to derail her day near the midpoint. Instead of crumbling, Fortushniak rallied with two straight birdies and closed the opening round with a career-low-tying 70 (-2).
"I was mad, but I stayed calm," Fortushniak said after chunking an approach, landing in a divot and hitting past the hole before limping off par-4, No. 12 with a six on the card. "I just knew that the next hole was short and I tried to get it down the fairway, ended up 93 yards from the pin, made a good swing and made birdie, that really re-sparked the round. After a double, it's very easy to be a Debbie Downer, but I stayed calm and didn't freak out. Then, it was a really good feeling to birdie the last hole. That was just super rewarding because of how well I played the 15 holes before that."
Fortushniak turned in a similar bogey-free stretch in the second, using another early birdie before going 14 holes before finally taking an extra shot on par-3 No. 11 late in the round.
"I'm really proud of Heather," Knight said. "She brings a lot of energy to the team. She creates a lot of laughter, but she's worked hard the last couple of weeks and I think she's learning from her teammates. She's put in some extra time this spring and it's starting to show. She did a really nice job today. Just hit the ball very well."
K-State junior Niamh McSherry joined Fortushniak in the top-25 at 2-under 142 in a tie for 22nd, and matched team's low round of the day with a 70 (-2) in the second. Reid Isaac turned in a 70 to start the day and was tied for 27th at 70-73--143 (-1). Chloe Weir shot back-to-back rounds of par and was T34th at 144, while Briony Bayles shot 79-75--154 (+10). Competing as an individual freshman Haley Vargas shot 80-76--156 (+12).
"I'm really proud of the team today," McSherry said. "We were all very patient. There is a lot of birdie opportunities out there and I think we all came out with the same idea that we left a few out there. I think that just shows how much better we've got as a team - that we can still be under par and think that we can do a bit better. I'm really proud of Heather leading the team today, a great performance from her and everyone just hanging in there."
K-State will have a final round to go low and try to climb into the top-5 on Monday when it's paired with Denver and UNLV, the two teams it's chasing. The Wildcats will tee off on the front, holes No. 4-7, when the third round begins with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m.
"I like the way they're carrying themselves around the golf course," Knight said after Sunday's rounds. "They are making good decisions and they're giving themselves opportunities. They're hitting greens, they're getting those birdie opportunities. They know that they can score lower. I know every one of them would tell you that and I think that's the plan."
Fortushniak used rounds of 70 (-2) and 71 (-1) to post a 3-under 141, the best two-round tally of the sophomore from Brighton, Michigan's still blossoming K-State career. She led all Wildcats in an individual tie for 17th, just two shots out of the top-10. As a team, K-State shot a 284 (-4) in the opening round and 286 (-2) in the second to sit just two strokes out of the top-5 in the 16 team field.
Oklahoma led Ole Miss by a stroke for the team lead at 25-under 551, while Denver's Anna Zanusso fired a course-record 61 (-11) in the second round to climb into a one shot lead with 18 holes to play.
"We're really pleased with the ladies, they did a nice job," K-State head coach Kristi Knight said. "They gave themselves opportunities which is all I can ask. I know a couple of girls wish they would've holed more putts, but really pleased with the patience on the golf course. They were giving themselves looks at birdie. The very few times I saw us hit one out of play, just really proud of how they responded. They didn't carry it around with them, they let that shot go and kept moving. There was a lot of good out there today. I know there's three teams at the top that went really low today, but we're up in the position to have a really good tournament and the ladies know."
Fortushniak was the most solid Wildcat throughout the first 36 holes, using a birdie to open the tournament and 15 bogey free holes before a double threatened to derail her day near the midpoint. Instead of crumbling, Fortushniak rallied with two straight birdies and closed the opening round with a career-low-tying 70 (-2).
"I was mad, but I stayed calm," Fortushniak said after chunking an approach, landing in a divot and hitting past the hole before limping off par-4, No. 12 with a six on the card. "I just knew that the next hole was short and I tried to get it down the fairway, ended up 93 yards from the pin, made a good swing and made birdie, that really re-sparked the round. After a double, it's very easy to be a Debbie Downer, but I stayed calm and didn't freak out. Then, it was a really good feeling to birdie the last hole. That was just super rewarding because of how well I played the 15 holes before that."
Fortushniak turned in a similar bogey-free stretch in the second, using another early birdie before going 14 holes before finally taking an extra shot on par-3 No. 11 late in the round.
"I'm really proud of Heather," Knight said. "She brings a lot of energy to the team. She creates a lot of laughter, but she's worked hard the last couple of weeks and I think she's learning from her teammates. She's put in some extra time this spring and it's starting to show. She did a really nice job today. Just hit the ball very well."
K-State junior Niamh McSherry joined Fortushniak in the top-25 at 2-under 142 in a tie for 22nd, and matched team's low round of the day with a 70 (-2) in the second. Reid Isaac turned in a 70 to start the day and was tied for 27th at 70-73--143 (-1). Chloe Weir shot back-to-back rounds of par and was T34th at 144, while Briony Bayles shot 79-75--154 (+10). Competing as an individual freshman Haley Vargas shot 80-76--156 (+12).
"I'm really proud of the team today," McSherry said. "We were all very patient. There is a lot of birdie opportunities out there and I think we all came out with the same idea that we left a few out there. I think that just shows how much better we've got as a team - that we can still be under par and think that we can do a bit better. I'm really proud of Heather leading the team today, a great performance from her and everyone just hanging in there."
K-State will have a final round to go low and try to climb into the top-5 on Monday when it's paired with Denver and UNLV, the two teams it's chasing. The Wildcats will tee off on the front, holes No. 4-7, when the third round begins with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m.
"I like the way they're carrying themselves around the golf course," Knight said after Sunday's rounds. "They are making good decisions and they're giving themselves opportunities. They're hitting greens, they're getting those birdie opportunities. They know that they can score lower. I know every one of them would tell you that and I think that's the plan."
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