Mizzou women’s golf competed in its third tournament in as many weeks, finishing 11th at the Jim West Challenge, hosted by Texas State in The Woodlands, Texas, from Oct. 9 to 10.
Fifteen schools competed in the tournament, including Miami and Florida State from the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12 competitors Texas and Oklahoma, No. 15 Kent State and No. 23 Texas A&M, a Southeastern Conference foe.
The Tigers went with the same starting lineup they’ve used for each tournament this season: sophomore star Emma Allen, sophomore Cayce Hendrickson, senior Jess Meek, freshman Jess Yuen and junior Clara Young.
The first two rounds took place Sunday. Through round one, Mizzou finished tied for seventh at +1 with 289 team strokes, nine shots back of first-place Florida State. Individually, Mizzou had a trio of young stars record great rounds, as Allen, Young and Yuen came out firing. All three players recorded a solid 71 on the scorecard through the first 18 holes.
Through round two, Mizzou fell back to +6 with 293 team strokes. However, the team found itself tied for eighth after improved play from its competition. Clara Young impressed with a round of 70, finding herself tied for seventh individually at -3 overall. Allen saw slightly worse results, sliding to +1 overall.
The third and final round got underway Monday morning. It was the worst team round of the season so far for the Tigers, as they recorded a +9 performance to end the tournament at +15.
Florida State would run away with the team victory at -24, seven strokes ahead of second-place Kent State. Miami came in third at -11, with Texas — which won the Lady Paladin Invitational, the first tournament of the Tigers’ 2016-17 season — in fourth at -7 and Texas A&M in fifth at -5. Mizzou will see FSU at least once more this season; they play at the Florida State Matchup in Tallahassee, Florida on Feb. 10, 2017.
Individually, Matilda Castren of Florida State finished in first at -13 after recording an impressive round of 69 to seal the victory Monday. As for Mizzou, the top Tiger performer was Emma Allen, who finished off a solid tournament tied for 15th at -2 after a final round of 69. Clara Young finished tied for 39th at +8, and Jess Meek finished tied for 55th at +10. Jess Yuen recorded a solid final round of 72 but ultimately would finish 60th at +11. Cayce Hendrickson would finish at +12, tied for 61st.
“We have yet to maximize our full potential but we are still very encouraged by the play of individuals on this team,” coach Stephanie Priesmeyer said in a press release. “Once we put it all together, this team will contend.”
The Tigers are back in action on Oct. 23, when they compete in the Las Vegas Collegiate Shootout.
_Edited by Peter Baugh | pbaugh@themaneater.com_
