University of Missouri
The Johnie Imes
Women's Golf Hosts 12th Annual Johnie Imes Invitational
9/29/2019 11:20:00 AM | Women's Golf
Tigers Looking for Sixth-Straight Tourney Title
Columbia, Mo. – The Mizzou Women's Golf Team welcomes 14 other programs to Columbia for the 12th playing of the Johnie Imes Invitational. Tournament play will begin at 8 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 1 and will continue until Wednesday, Oct. 3. Each day will consist of 18 holes at The Club at Old Hawthorne (Par 72, 6,234 yards).
Live scoring is available online on Birdie Fire, at the following link: https://m.birdiefire.com/tournament/61573/
Beginning in 2007, the Imes has yielded great success for the Tigers. The team has won the invitational five straight years, and six of 11 overall. Last year, Mizzou posted a team score of 853 that topped runner-up Fresno State by an impressive 22 strokes. Mizzou senior Emma Allen won the individual title in 2018 with a three-day total of 211 (67-71-73) to win by one stroke over Laura Edmonds of Florida Gulf Coast. It marked Allen's first collegiate medalist honor, and she was followed closely by teammate Jessica Yuen, as the junior finished in solo third place at 213 (70-71-72).
"This is always a highlight of our season," said Priesmeyer. "Johnie Imes was an amazing woman who gave so much to the game of golf here in the state of Missouri, and she was really important to the Mizzou program. Because of her efforts to better the game of women's golf, our program was able to benefit from better resources and more opportunities to be competitive. But it's not just that, she was an awesome person, really just a joy to be around, she loved being around our team any time she could," she said.
"We're all very honored to represent Johnie and her family at this tournament, and we take it very seriously that we play well and do everything we can to keep the trophy here at our facility," said Priesmeyer. "Our lineup this year looks a lot different from just last year, but I'm excited for the ladies to get out there and showcase what they can do. Naturally, Old Hawthorne is our home course so the familiarity we have with it will be an advantage," she said.
Headlining Head Coach Stephanie Priesmeyer's lineup in 2019 is junior Noelle Beijer (Assendelft, The Netherlands). Since transferring from Florida Tech before the 2019-20 campaign, Beijer has been sensational. She finished with a tournament score of three under in the Minnesota Invitational that earned her sixth place in her first career start as a Tiger. She followed that performance up with a Top-20 finish at the Mason Rudolph Challenge.
The second spot in the Mizzou lineup will be filled by freshman Sophia Yoemans (Red Wing, Minn.). Yoemans had a stellar showing at the Mason Rudolph Challenge last time out, posting a three day score of 217 (1-over) that tied her for 12th, the best finish of her young career.
Yoemans will have a special honor in the 2019 Johnie Imes, as she will carry the Folds of Honor bag that celebrates the life of 1st Lieutenant William Anthony Edens, a Mizzou grad who was killed during service in Iraq on April 28, 2005. Throughout the course of this season, a designated member of the Tiger lineup will carry a special golf bag embroidered with Lt. Edens' name. The team asks that fans consider pledging a dollar amount for every birdie made this season by the Tiger carrying Lt. Edens' bag (one-time flat donations are also certainly welcomed).
For more information on 1st Lt. Edens and how to donate to the season-long fundraiser, please visit www.MUTigers.com/FoldsOfHonor. The total amount of birdies collected with the Folds of Honor bag is 10 heading into the Imes Invitational.
Freshman Bri Bolden (Mokenna, Ill.) claims the third spot in the lineup. Bolden has been consistent for the Tigers, posting four rounds under 80 including a career best 73 in the final round of the Mason Rudolph Challenge.
In the fourth slot is senior Cherise Otter (Bloomington, Ind.). Otter is the only member of the Tigers' starting lineup that has previously started in the Johnie Imes. Last year, she carded a one-over 217 and tied for sixth at The Club at Old Hawthorne.
Rounding out the Mizzou lineup is sophomore Julia Bower (Columbia, Mo.). Bower competed as an individual in the Johnie Imes Invitational last year, posting an 11-over 227.
Sophomore Keagan Dunn (Braselton, Ga.) will also play as an individual this week, and she'll be looking to improve on her 2018 Imes outing, when she tied for 50th individually with a three-day score of 232 (74-77-81).
For all the latest on Mizzou Women's Golf, stay tuned to www.MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter (@MUWomensGolf) and on Facebook at MizzouWomensGolf.
Players Mentioned
