April 23, 2000

Lubbock, Texas - Windy conditions played havoc with scores today in the final round of the Big 12 Championships in Lubbock, but the Missouri Tigers held their ground as they recorded a fourth-place team finish, ending just five strokes off the lead. The fourth place finish equalled MU's highest showing in the Big 12 Tournament.

Junior Amelia Moses made history this afternoon, as she became MU's first-ever conference champion, as the Coronationville, South Africa native won by one stroke over Jennifer James of Oklahoma. Moses was the tournament leader after a second-round 72 left her one stroke ahead of James. The title came down to the final hole of play, as Moses claimed honors with a par of number 18, while James bogeyed to finish one stroke back. Ironically, Moses' three-round total of 222 was identical to the total she posted when she won the Jeannine McHaney Invitational on the same course in Lubbock in the fall of 1998. In Moses' previous two Big 12 Championship appearances, she finished 34th each time.

No Tiger female had ever won a conference title prior to Moses' feat. The best previous finish at a conference tournament was second, accomplished three times previously -- Stefanie Mitchell (1998), Michelle Jordan (1980) and Mary McNabb (1978).

In what was the closest Big 12 tournament to date, Oklahoma claimed the team title by one stroke over Oklahoma State, and the top five teams were separated by just five strokes.

Missouri's strong showing likely assured them a bid to the NCAA West Regional, which is scheduled for May 11-13 in Tempe, Ariz. Bids will be doled out on May 1st.

In addition to Moses' heroics, senior Tobi Probst turned in an outstanding tournament, as well. The Columbus, Ind. native had her first-ever top-10 finish at a conference championship, as she tied for ninth overall with a 229 total. Her previous best was a tie for 16th in 1997.

Sophomore Nisha Sadekar tied for 27th overall, with a three-round total of 237. That's a solid improvement from last year's Big 12 Championships, when the Aurora, Ontario native tied for 54th place.

Junior Jamie Tucker struggled in Sunday's gusty final round, as she shot an 87 to finish tied for 29th place. Tucker tied for 6th at the 1999 Big 12 Championships, just three strokes off the lead.

Freshman Elin Ohlsson finished in 45th place with a three-round total of 245 in her first Big 12 appearance.

Big 12 Championship

Lubbock C.C. Lubbock, TX

FINAL RESULTS

Tournament Dates: 04/21 - 04/23

Par: 72

Yardage: 6138

Fin Team Scores
1 Oklahoma, U. of 298 301 317 916 +52
2 Oklahoma State Univ. 295 303 319 917 +53
3 Nebraska, U. of 300 306 314 920 +56
4 Missouri, U. of 305 298 318 921 +57
 Texas, Univ. of 293 305 323 921 +57
6 Texas Tech Univ 304 308 313 925 +61
7 Baylor University 318 301 318 937 +73
8 Texas A&M University 317 307 319 943 +79
9 Colorado, U. of 319 318 324 961 +97
10 Kansas State Univ. 324 320 321 965 +101
11 Iowa State Univ. 318 322 337 977 +113
12 Kansas, U. of 327 321 330 978 +114

FINAL INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

Fin Name School Scores
1 Amelia Moses Missouri 73 72 77 222 +6
2 Jennifer James Oklahoma 73 73 77 223 +7
3 Sarah Sasse Nebraska 71 75 79 225 +9
4 Emma Zackrisson Okla. St. 70 76 80 226 +10
 Priscillia Hunt Texas Tech 75 74 77 226 +10
6 Maria Boden Okla. St. 70 79 78 227 +11
 Wendy Martin Oklahoma 76 73 78 227 +11
8 Amanda Sutcliffe Nebraska 73 76 79 228 +12
9 Tobi Probst Missouri 80 73 76 229 +13
 Randi Meadows Texas 76 74 79 229 +13

OTHER MISSOURI FINISHERS
27 Nisha Sadekar Missouri 77 77 83 237 +21
29 Jamie Tucker Missouri 75 76 87 238 +22
45 Elin Ohlsson Missouri 80 83 82 245 +29