Women’s Golf Extends Lead Tuesday, In Position for Sixth-Straight Imes Title
10/1/2019 5:59:00 PM | Women's Golf
Beijer and Otter Share Three-Way Tie for First Individually
Columbia, MO – The Mizzou Women's Golf Team has completed the first two rounds of the 12th annual Johnie Imes Invitational at the Club at Old Hawthorne in Columbia, Mo., and the Tigers are in position to claim their sixth-straight Imes trophy. Head Coach Stephanie Priesmeyer's squad has won their home tournament every year since 2014 and extended their lead in this year's team race by one shot Tuesday with a team score of 289. With one round left to play, Mizzou (290-289 = 579) is currently on top with a seven-stroke lead over second place Oral Roberts (296-290 = 586), with Fresno State 13 shots back in third place (303-289 = 592).
"I like where the team is at going into the final round," said Head Coach Stephanie Priesmeyer. "I've seen a lot of great body language and energy so far, and we just need to keep that momentum going tomorrow – keep focusing on what we need to do and take care of business," she said.
Wednesday looms as a big day for the individual leaderboard as well, as a pair of Tigers are among a three-way tie for first place individually after two rounds of play. Senior Cherise Otter (Bloomington, Ind.) and junior Noelle Beijer (Assendelft, The Netherlands) head into the final round tied for first along with Sarah Bell from Oral Roberts – all with identical 36-hole totals of 140. In addition, three more individuals are within two shots of the lead heading into Wednesday.
Otter followed up her 1-under 71 on Monday by shooting a 3-under 69 on Tuesday, which tied her career low and was her fourth time shooting in the 60s in her career. She started off the day with two birdies and says she knew it was going to be a good day after the strong start.
"I hit a good drive on the first hole, and stuck my second shot to about 10 feet," said Otter, who is looking for her first collegiate individual title. "On the second hole, I just put it on the back bit of the green where the pin was, probably 12 feet away there, so being that precise early really helps," she said.
Otter attributed her success in the first two days to her putting. "I was putting well yesterday, and I just kept it rolling today. I was just pretty confident in my stroke all day," she said.
"Cherise has looked fantastic the last two days," said Priesmeyer. "If she misses a green she's been making tremendous up and downs, and she's holed some really nice putts. I just love how she's carrying herself and the energy she's bringing into the final round – I think she's going to do a great job tomorrow," she said.
Beijer is eyeing her second tournament shooting below par on the season. She followed up her 3-under 69 in round one with a 1-under 71 on Tuesday. Beijer, a second-team NCAA Division II All-American and two-time individual medalist at her previous school Florida Tech, eagled the par-five 10th hole Tuesday, and came within inches of holing out from the fairway for an albatross. Her second shot from 190 yards out stopped to within three inches of the hole, and Beijer tapped in for a kick-in eagle three.
"Noelle had a lot of opportunities early in her round today that just didn't fall for her, and I could tell she was maybe pressing just a little bit at the turn," said Priesmeyer. "Her tap-in eagle on 10 was a big boost for her, and then she made a great birdie on 11 to really get rolling, so she had another solid day for us," she said.
Freshman Bri Bolden (Mokena, Ill.) matched her second-lowest round of her young Tiger career with a 74 (+2) in round two on Tuesday. Her lowest round of the season, a 73, came in round three of the Mason Rudolph Challenge. Bolden had a pair of birdies on the day, including a clutch three on the par-four finishing 18th hole. She begins Wednesday's final round in a tie for 17th place (75-74 = 149), and is just three shots out of the top 10.
"Bri couldn't really get going early on, but I liked how she stayed patient on the back," said Priesmeyer. "She made eight-straight pars and then finished by making a great birdie putt on 18 so hopefully that gives her a big boost of confidence heading into tomorrow," she said.
Sophomore Julia Bower (Columbia, Mo.) was just off her season-best round of 75 on Monday, as she followed with a four-over 76 Tuesday, including an even-par 36 on the front. The former Missouri Class 2 individual champion is currently 7-over and is tied for 24th through two rounds (75-76 = 151).
Freshman Sophia Yoemans (Red Wing, Minn.) is just one shot back of Bower in a tie for 27th place with a two-day total of 152 (77-75). Yoemans got off to a good start Tuesday, as she carded three birdies on the front, and ended one under on the outward nine.
Sophomore Keagan Dunn (Braselton, Ga.) improved by three shots from day one with a 6-over 78 on Tuesday, thanks to three birdies. She is representing Mizzou as an individual this week.
The tournament concludes on Wednesday at The Club at Old Hawthorne with a shotgun tee time of 8 a.m.
Players Mentioned
