Missouri State University

The Missouri State women’s golf team finished second in the 2009 Hotels at Grand Prairie Collegiate Classic on Sunday.  The Bears, with a two-round total of 636, shot 328 as a team in the final round to finish four strokes behind tournament champion Drake at 632.  The Bulldogs came from behind with 318 in the second round to capture the title. 

The 14-team tournament, played on Weaver Ridge Golf Club, a par 72, 6,137-yard course was shortened to 36 holes due to the weather forecast for Monday in Peoria, Ill.  Olivia Lansing of Drake earned medalist honors shooting 77-72 for a two-day total 149.

Freshman Kelsey Welber led the team for the tournament, notching her best collegiate finish as the sole competitor in second place.  She posted 77 in the final round to finish with a 36-hole score of 152.  Welber topped her previous best tournament finish set in October at the ORU Shootout where she finished tied in second place.

Freshman teammate Catherine Dolan slid one spot to finish tied in 12^th place, carding 82 in the final round for a 161 total.  Senior Amy Phalajivin shot 89 ending with a 36-hole score of 163.  She finished tied for 16^th place.  Junior Stacey Rodger tied for 32^nd place at 166, shooting 86 in the second round.  One stroke back of Rodger, tied for 36^th place, was senior Lindsey Wellenstein.  She posted 84 on Sunday for a total of 176. 

Freshman Emily Potts matched her first round score, shooting 85 again, for a two-round total of 170.  She finished tied for 49^th place.  Emily Matthews, also a freshman for the Bears and playing as an individual, completed her second collegiate career with an 87 to place 79^th.  She recorded a 36-hole score of 180.   

The 2009 Hotels at Grad Prairie Collegiate Classic concludes the Bears’ regular season competition.  Next for the women will be the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship.  The tournament is scheduled for April 17-19 in Panora, Iowa and will be played on Lake Panorama National Golf Course.    

Day 1 Recap

The Bears shot 308 in the first round topping the 14-team field by six strokes.  The closest competitor to the Bears is Drake in second with a team total of 314.  Tournament host, Bradley, follows the Bulldogs at 317 to round out the top three. 

Phalajivin carded a two-over-par round of 74 to lead the field of 87 individual golfers after 18 holes.  A stroke behind in second place was Welber, posting 75 for the day.  Dolan finished tied in 11^th place, posting 79.   Rodger shot eight-over-par 80 and entered the second round tied for 16^th place. 

Wellenstein shot 83 and finished tied in 35^th place.  Potts, two strokes behind with 85 ended the day tied for 49^th place.  Matthews played as an individual for the Bears in her second collegiate tournament.  She carded 93 for the first 18 holes and finished tied for 78^th place.