Sophomore Kelsey Welber fired a one-over-par 72 on Sunday (Mar. 7) to lead the Missouri State women's golf team to a seventh-place finish at the 18-team Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational in Rio Verde, Ariz. Welber's round was the tournament's best of the day on a rain-soaked afternoon that saw the Bears shoot 308 and move up two spots after posting 311-307-308--926 for 54 holes.
Michigan was the wire-to-wire tournament winner, shooting 291-287-303--881 to win by 14 over second-place Minnesota, which had 895. Eastern Michigan was third at 904, followed by Arkansas-Little Rock at 908, Kansas 917, Ball State 922 and the Bears 926. Xavier (929), Western Michigan (31) and Cincinnati (933) rounded out the top 10.
Welber tied for ninth in the tournament, shooting 76-76-72--224, while freshman Heather Smith was next for MSU with 78-75-79--232 and tied for 26th. Freshman Emma Clegg tied for 52nd, shooting 79-78-81--238, and freshman Hermine Greyling and sophomore Catherine Dolan tied for 59th with 239 totals. Greyling shot 84-79-76 while Dolan carded 78-78-83. Michigan's Ashley Bauer took medalist honors with 68-68-73--209.
The Bears return to action at the Jackrabbit Invitational in Primm, Nev., Mar. 15-16.
