Missouri State's Brooke Newell has been named Missouri Valley Conference Golfer of the Week for the first time in her career after lapping the field at this week's ORU Invitational. She shot a career-best 71-68-75--214 to post an eight-stroke victory Tuesday (Apr. 13) at Indian Springs Country Club in Broken Arrow, Okla. The Bears finished second in the tournament, finishing just two shots behind Little Rock with a 900 team total over 54 holes.

The junior from Anita, Iowa has posted a 77.6 stroke average in 16 rounds this season. In addition to this week's win, she's also placed third at the MSU Spring Invitational and eighth at the MSU/Payne Stewart Memorial. Newell shared the golfer of the week honor with Sydney Eaton of UNI and Taylor Ledwein of Bradley.

She and her Bear teammates will be back in action Monday and Tuesday (Apr. 19-20) at the Missouri Valley Conference Championship in suburban St. Louis.