The Missouri State women's golf team will host the MSU/Payne Stewart Memorial to open its season Monday and Tuesday (Sept. 15-16) in Springfield. The Bears will host 10 other teams in the 54-hole event named after the late PGA Tour star and Hall of Famer who was a Springfield native.
The tournament will begin with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start for Monday's 36 holes and continue with the final 18 Tuesday at the same time. The Bears will take on Missouri Valley Conference rivals Bradley, UNI, Southern Illinois and Wichita State, along with Arkansas State, Oral Roberts, McNeese State, SIU-Edwardsville, Drury and South Dakota at Rivercut Golf Course, which will play at 6,005 yards and to a par of 72.
Missouri State opens its seventh season under head coach Kevin Kane with a new look from a year ago. Lost to graduation are 2008 MVC Player of the Year Missy Linnens along with Lyndsey Adams and Jillian Anthony. Half of the Bears' 10-team roster is comprised of freshmen, but it also includes seniors Amy Phalajivin, an all-conference performer in 2007, and Lindsey Wellenstein, along with junior Stacey Rodger. Catherine Dolan and Kelsey Welber have been the top freshmen in the early going, with Dolan having led the team in its early-season qualifier.
"Catherine and Amy have been our best players in the early going and in the qualifier," said Kane, "and I think they'll give us a strong 1-2 punch. I'm really excited about the possibilities for this team. It's a different dynamic from the last couple of years when we had some pretty experienced teams. We're a lot younger, but enthusiastic and eager to make our mark. I think it'll be a fun year with some good golf."
The Stewart is the beginning of a five-tournament fall slate which also includes trips to Missouri, Oral Roberts, the MVC Preview in Iowa, and Texas State.
