Orschell in first after first day of tournament

By Keith Thomas
Summer Editor

Former Purdue women’s golf standout Stacey Orschell is the co-leader at the Indiana PGA Women’s Open following the first day of competition.

Orschell fired a 1-under 72 on Thursday morning at The Elks golf course in securing a share of the overall lead with Morgan O’Bannon and Julie Carmichael, whose father, Sam, is the head women’s golf coach at IU.

Orschell, who won the annual tournament as an amateur in 1998, finished the front-nine with a 1-over par 38. Orschell, a perfectionist, then put together a string of three birdies in a row on holes 12, 13 and 14 before bogeying 15 and just missing a birdie putt on 16, saving par. Orschell finished the back nine with a 34.

"I think the first nine, I was a little apprehensive," said Orschell. "I had some butterflies."

When the nervousness subsided, Orschelll said she had to focus on straightening out her drives.

"I was a little unhappy with my driver (Thursday)," Orschell said. "My short game is what saved me."

Still, being in first place in the first round of the two-day tournament gives Orschell little room to relax and enjoy the solid play.

Back on the driving range on Thursday night, Orschell said she has to improve some things this afternoon if she plans on taking home the first-place trophy and winner’s check.

"You can’t win a tournament on the first day, but you can lose it on the last day," Orschell said.

Orschell’s last-season Boiler teammate and senior-to-be Andrea Quandt is also a participant in the annual open tournament — finishing the first round at 83 with a 42 on the front and a 41 on the back-nine.

Orschell’s day-one caddie was former Boiler teammate Lisa Kenly.

• The tournament is open to the public and admission is free. Play begins around 8 a.m. and Orschell will be teeing off again around 9:30 this morning.