Kent State Off To California for Northwestern Invitational
4/2/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
KENT, Ohio In its last event, the Kent State University womens golf team claimed its first top five finish of the spring season, placing fifth at the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic. This week, Kent State looks to improve upon that finish as it heads west to California to play in the Northwestern Invitational in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Coming Up: April 3-4, 2006 at Northwestern Invitational (54 holes)
Recent Result: Fifth of 18 teams at Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic
Top Kent State Finisher: Tara Delaney, 20th, 76-78-76230 (+14)
SCOUTING THE NORTHWESTERN INVITATIONAL: The Northwestern Invitational features eight teams that are ranked in the top 50 of the latest Golfweek/Sagarin Index. The Golden Flashes also get a sneak preview of the upcoming MAC Championships as two MAC womens golf teams take part in the event; Northern Illinois and Western Michigan. Golfweek lists the Westin Mission Hills Resort as one of the top 75 golf resorts in the country.
The course: Gary Player Signature Course at Westin Mission Hills Resort
Location: Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Par/Yardage: 72/6,044 yards
Weather Outlook: Monday: mostly cloudy, high 78; Tuesday: chance of rain, high 73
The field: Baylor, UC-Irvine, Colorado, Iowa State, Kent State, Michigan, Michigan State, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Penn State, SMU, TCU, Texas Tech, Western Michigan
2005 Northwestern Invitational team champion: N/A
2005 Northwestern Invitational individual champion: N/A
LAST TIME OUT: Kent State finished fifth at the highly competitive Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic at the University of Georgia Golf Course. The Golden Flashes were one of eight teams in the top 25 of the latest NGCA Coaches Poll that were in the field. Kent State finished in front of three, including ninth-ranked Arkansas.
Sophomore Tara Delaney led way for Kent State, earning her fifth top-20 finish of the season, placing 20th after totaling a 14-over 230. Delaney carded 76-78-76 in three rounds. Her sister, junior Karen Delaney made a huge jump in the third round, climbing from a tie for 49th to finish tied for 27th. She shot 72 in the final round to post a 16-over 232. Her final round 72 tied for the teams low round of the spring season. Sophomore Kira Meixner and freshman Kirby Dreher tied for 30th, each shooting a three-round total of 233. Meixner posted rounds of 76-78-79, while Dreher shot 80-73-80. Senior Becky Wood rounded out the Kent State five, tying for 43rd, shooting rounds of 79-76-81 for a 236 total.
WOOD, MEIXNER CLAIM FIRST TITLES: Senior Becky Wood tied for first through 54 holes, shooting 4-over 220 at the Mary Fossum Invitational in the fall, then won the individual title in a playoff for her first collegiate championship. Her previous best finish was a second at the 2004 MAC Championships. Wood won the playoff with a par on the opening playoff hole over Northwesterns Jennifer Hong. Sophomore Kira Meixner made it two-for-two for Kent State to open the fall season when she won the Shoot-out at the Legends for her first collegiate title. Meixner fired a 1-under 215 to claim the event, topping her previous best, which was a tied for sixth at the "Mo"Moral Invitational in 2005.
IN THE RANKINGS: Kent State is ranked 25th in the latest NGCA Coaches Poll and 22nd in the Golfweek/Sagarin performance index. Sophomore Tara Delaney is ranked 58th in the Sagarin index.
