Sept. 26, 2003
Franklin, Tenn. - The University of Missouri women's golf team shot a 306 in the opening round of the Mason Rudolph Championships on Friday, putting them in a tie for 14th after Day 1. The Tigers are only six strokes out of the Top 10 in the tournament that features 10 of the Top 20 teams in the country competing at the Legends Country Club of Tennessee (Par 72, Yardage: 6302). UCLA is the leader after the opening day shooting a seven-under 281.
"I was very pleased with the way we competed today," head coach Stephanie Cooper. "We had a very confident attitude throughout the day as a team and we knew coming into the tournament that it would be a tough field to play against. Overall, I thought we played with tenacity and continued to fight and focus throughout the round and that's encouraging as we head into Day 2."
Moberly, Mo., native Denise Knaebel continued her solid play this fall, finishing the day in a tie for 17th, shooting an even-par 72. Despite being only in 17th, Knaebel is only two strokes out of the Top five and five strokes off of UCLA's Hannah Jun's pace of 67.
Sophomores Kelli Strubinger and Stephanie Turner turned in solid opening rounds, both shooting 77's, which put them in a tie for 49th after Day 1. Junior Maria Ohlsson opened the tourney with an 80 (T-71st) while freshman Lyndsey Adams fired an 81 (78th).
The Tigers will compete in Day 2 of the three-day event and will play with Kentucky and South Carolina beginning at 8:40 a.m. EST. For more information on Mizzou Women's golf, log on to the home of Missouri Athletics on the World Wide Web, www.mutigers.com.