Freshman Elin Pudas Remler of Sweden finished third in her first tournament but believes she can do even better. (UK Athletics Photo)
Elin Pudas Remler had a memorable debut for the Kentucky women’s golf team despite bogeying her final two holes at the Bettie Lou Evans Invitational at Champion Trace at Keene Trace Golf Club.
She finished the 54-hole tournament even par to place third in the individual standings in her first collegiate tourney and helped Kentucky take second place. She opened with a 5-over par 77 but then had a 3-under 69 and 2-under 70.
The Sweden native won the European Nations Championship in May and also reached the British Women’s Amateur Match Play Round of 32. She raised her world amateur ranking over 100 spots after signing with UK in November of 2023.
“I wasn’t very satisfied with my first round, no putts were dropping,” Pudas Remler said. “I felt like the world was against me. Then I just kept on fighting. I shot 69 and then felt like the world was basically fine. I did a lot of good things in the final round, too, before going bogey-bogey to finish was a bit of a disappointment.”
She believes her final two rounds are indicative of what she can do for Kentucky this season (the team is playing in the Mason Rudolph Championship in Franklin, Tenn., this weekend).
“I feel like I did a lot of good things out there the last two rounds but my highest level is probably still a little bit higher than what I did in my first tournament,” the UK freshman said. “I am really excited about the rest of the season.”
Even though she’s from Sweden, she had several fans watching her play in the final round.
“Two of them were my coach’s parents,” Pudas Remler said. “They are so nice and sweet. I love them so much and felt honored that they wanted to follow me all those holes. I think they just started following me and saw a lot of birdies and thought it would be fun to watch.
