The Missouri State women’s golf team completed the first tournament of spring season Tuesday with a 34^th place finish and 54-hole team total of 978 in Kiawah Island, South Carolina.  Hosted by the College of Charleston and the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, the Edwin Watts/Kiawah Island Classic, comprised of 43 teams, was the largest collegiate women’s event in the country.  The three-day event featured 215 players and was played at on two courses, Cougar Point and Oak Point.  Of the 43 teams that participated, 21 are currently ranked in the top 100 by Golfweek. 

Central Arkansas and Miami shared the team title for the tournament with a 54-hole total of 904.  Nicole Forshner of Central Arkansas and Sinead O’Sullivan of East Tennessee State tied for medalist honors individually.  The two fired identical rounds of 74-73-71 each day to finish with a tournament total of 218. 

Kelsey Welber, a freshman for the Bears, finished low for the team with a three-day total of 236.  She placed tied for 75^th in the tournament individually, improving each round 82-78-76.  Second for the Bears was freshman teammate Catherine Dolan.  She finished tied for 94^th in the tournament with rounds of 80-80-79 for a 54-hole total of 239. 

In a tie for 161^st individually was Amy Phalajivin.  She carded rounds of 89-79-82 over the three days to finish with a total of 250.  Junior Stacey Rodger was fourth for the Bears’ women, placing tied in 173^rd with a 54-hole total of 253.  She posted 18-hole rounds of 83-81-89.  In 204^th place individually was senior Lindsey Wellenstein.  Wellenstein shot 93-82-93—268.

The Bears’ women travel to Rio Verde, Arizona to compete in the Rio Verde Invitational on March 6-8.  There will be live scoring at the tournament.  Fans can go to www.golfstat.com to catch the results.

Round Two Recap

After opening the spring season with a rough first day of competition, the Missouri State women's golf team rebounded Monday to improve 16 strokes and three places in the standings from the previous day.  Playing in calmer conditions on the par 72 Cougar Point Course, the Bears shot 318 for a 36-hole total of 652.  The team finished the day in a tie for 32nd place in the 43-team field.

Welber led the Bears in the second round, carding 78 after Sunday's 82, entered the last round of competition tied for 94th along with teammate Dolan who recorded 80-80--160 after two rounds.  Rodger tied for 130^th after two rounds with 83-81--164, while Phalajivin bounced back Monday with 79 after an opening 89 for a 168.  She finished the day tied for 158th.  Wellenstein went 93-82--175 and is tied for 195th. 

Round One Recap

The Missouri State women’s golf team began its 2009 spring season on Sunday, shooting 334 as a team in very strong winds in Kiawah Island, South Carolina.  The Bears finished the first round of competition tied in 35^th place out of 43 teams in the Edwin Watts/Kiawah Island Classic.

The Bears’ women played the first round on Oak Point a par 72, 5,907-yard course.  The team was led by Dolan who fired eight-over-par round of 80 to finish tied in 84^th place individually.  Two strokes behind Dolan was freshman teammate Welber with an 18-hole score of 82.  After the first 18 holes she was tied for 112^th place. Rodger was third for the Bears’ women, carding a round of 83 to finish tied at 134^th place. 

Also for the Bears were seniors Phalajivin and Wellenstein.  The two women shot 89 and 93, respectively.  Phalajivin tied for 191^st place after round one and Wellenstein entered the second round in 208^th place individually.