July 21, 1999

Columbia, Mo. - Missouri women's golfer JAMIE TUCKER won her second consecutive Missouri Women's Golf Association Amateur championship, held last week at Hickory Hills Golf Course, in Springfield, Mo.

Tucker, a junior-to-be in 1999-2000, recovered from an opening-round 77 to post consecutive rounds of 69 to successfully defend her 1998 state amateur title. Tucker's three-round total of 215 was seven strokes better than runner-up Jessica Polus of Springfield.

Tucker's win marked the fourth straight year that a Missouri Tiger has won the state amateur title. Former Tiger star Gina Spalitto won the title in 1996 and 1997, prior to Tucker's 1998 and 1999 titles.

Continuing her solid play this summer, Tucker has also qualified for the national amateur championship, to be held August 9-14 in Owings Mill, Mary.

It's been quite a few weeks for the Eureka, Mo. standout. Two weeks ago, she won a qualifier tournament in St. Louis to play in the LPGA's Michelob Light Classic, held at Forrest Hills. In her first LPGA appearance, Tucker shot an opening-round 76, but eventually missed the cut after a second-round 82.

As a sophomore for Missouri last season, Tucker averaged 77.46 strokes per round in 10 tournaments, and turned in three top-10 finishes. Tucker was arguably Head Coach TOM LOYD's best golfer down the stretch, as she was MU's top finisher in both the Big 12 Championships (tied for 6th) and at the NCAA West Regional (tied for 31st).