University of Missouri
UCF Challenge
#23 @MUWomensGolf Begins Spring Season at UCF Challenge
2/5/2016 10:52:00 AM | Women's Golf
Tigers will play single rounds Sunday - Tuesday
COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 23 Mizzou Women's Golf opens the spring season Sunday at the UCF Challenge being held at the Eagle Creek Golf Club in Orlando, Florida. Stephanie Priesmeyer's Tigers look to build off of a stellar fall that saw numerous program records broken and a national ranking in Golfweek.
"We have had some great practices and we have been able to prepare pretty well for the first event of the year," Priesmeyer said. "We are playing back-to-back at UCF and Florida State, and I believe our team is ready for the challenge. Our players did an excellent job of putting in the time and effort over the holiday break to get ready for the spring season."
During fall play, the Tigers recorded the best final round scoring average (71.72) in the nation, while also holding a share of the national lead in average subpar strokes per round (3.42) and total eagles (6).
Mizzou earned consecutive tournament victories for the first time 2007 by claiming Furman's Lady Paladin Invitational Sept. 20-22 then following that up with a dominant 39-under par performance in the Johnie Imes Invitational Sept. 28-29 that fell two strokes shy of the NCAA record score.
Junior Jessica Meek (Carnoustie, Scotland) was impressive during the first half of the season, finishing second in the nation with 56 birdies. She shot 4.0 subpar strokes per round, giving her a share of 10th place nationally.
Senior Michelle Butler (Dunedin, Fla.) holds an important leadership role for the Tigers, as she is the only senior on the roster. Butler's 49 birdies during the first half place her in the eighth spot nationally, while her 3.79 subpar strokes per round was good enough to entrench her at 24th. Additionally, the 65 she shot at the Johnie Imes was the fourth-lowest round of any Division I golfer all fall.
Sophomore Clara Young (North Berwick, Scotland) is looking to keep her consistent year going in the spring. She is currently ranked sixth nationally with 51 birdies and is tied for ninth in final round scoring average (70.8). Emma Allen (Southampton, England) made her presence felt right away during her first fall of college golf. She is currently tied for 15th nationally in total birdies, recording 47of the in the first half of the year.
Freshman Amanda Kim (O'Fallon, Mo.) is the final projected starter and looks to build off a strong finish in the last fall event. At the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown, she turned in a final round 71 (-1), which helped guide the Tigers to a fifth-place finish. Fellow freshman and mid-year enrollee Marit Harryvan (Winschoten, Netherlands) will compete as an individual.
Keep up with the Tigers by following @MUWomensGolf on Twitter and liking Mizzou Women's Golf on Facebook.
– MIZZOU –
Players Mentioned
