May 9, 2003
Lincoln, Neb. - The University of Missouri women's golf squad continued to add to its history-making 2002-03 campaign on Friday at the NCAA Central Regional in Lincoln, NE. After finishing in a tie for 6th place after the first 18 holes and shooting an opening-round 308, Mizzou equaled the best team total a Tiger team has registered in NCAA Regional Championship competition, shooting a 299 for a two round total of 607, putting them alone in 6th place heading into the final round. The 299 was also the best round the Tigers have shot this spring and equaled the fifth best round they had shot all season.
Senior Elin Ohlsson was amazing on Friday. After opening play with a 76, she shot lights out in the second round, shooting an even par 71 to put her in a four way tie for 8th. Ohlsson is just two strokes out of the Top 5 and seven strokes off of the leading heading into the final round. Her round of 71 equaled her best round of the season and was her best round of the spring.
Sophomores Mindy Bullard and Maria Ohlsson are both in a tie for 38th with a two-round total of 154. Bullard opened the day with a 76 and then faltered a bit in the second round, shooting a 78. After shooting an 80 in the opening round (good for a 58th place rank), Maria Ohlsson shot her best round of the spring season with a 74 in the second round.
Moberly freshman Denise Knaebel is only one stroke off of Ohlsson and Bullard's pace, firing a 155 on the opening day. Knaebel shot a 79 in the opening round and then came on strong in the second stanza, shooting a 76 to move into a tie for 42nd. Freshman Kelli Strubinger was in a tie for 32nd after the opening 18 after shooting a 77, but then dropped into a tie for 55th after a second-round effort of 80 for a total of 157.
The Tigers tee of at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow morning in the final round of regional and they will play with players from Oklahoma, Florida and Wisconsin. The top eight teams in the tournament advance to the NCAA Championships, which will be played in Lafayette, IN May 20-23. If the Tigers qualify for the Championship, it will mark the first time in school history a Tiger golf squad has reached the NCAA Championship level.
For complete coverage and live scoring of tomorrow's final round, log on to www.mutigers.com or www.golfstat.com. Complete results and a recap of the day's events will be posted following the final round. For more info on Mizzou Athletics, log on to www.mutigers.com.