Second tourney takes 'Cats to Texas
Sep 21, 2004 | Women's Golf
Off the Tee
The Kansas State Wildcats continue the 2004 fall season at the Jeannine McHaney Invitational in Lubbock, Texas, Sept. 24-26. This is the first time the Cats have competed in this event. During the 54-hole tournament, teams will play 18 holes Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For the first round, tee times begin at 8 a.m. The second and third rounds start with a shotgun at 8 a.m. each day at the Rawls Course in Lubbock.
Last Time Out
The Wildcats tied for fourth at the Ptarmigan/Ram Fall Classic to open the 2004-05 campaign. Sophomore Helene Robert paced the team as she set a 54-hole career best, carding a combined 217 to tie for fifth. In her collegiate debut, Kali Quick tied for 19th, carding a low round of 73.
Taste of the XII
K-State will get a good look at its conference opponents this weekend as seven other Big 12 teams compete in the tournament hosted by Texas Tech. Big 12 North teams include Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa State. Texas Tech, Baylor and Oklahoma compete from the South.
Course Preview
Should the Wildcats make a fifth consecutive appearance at the NCAA Regional, they will find an advantage in having played the Regional’s course previously. The Rawls Course hosts both the Jeannine McHaney Invitaional and the NCAA Central Regional in May.
Knight Time
Head coach Kristi Knight begins her tenth campaign with the Wildcats this fall. Under Knight, K-State has recorded five tournament wins, including the Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational and the Texas A&M Mo’Morial during the 2003-04 season. The Texas native and Oklahoma alum has coached Wildcat teams to four straight NCAA Regional appearances
and 32 top-five finishes.
First in the Fall
For the past three seasons, the Wildcats have won an event during the fall outings. In both 2002 and 2003, K-State took the team title at the Sunflower Invitational, with combined marks of 903 and 925, respectively. In 2001, the Cats won the Sunflower Showdown.
Making the Open
Senior Sarah Heffel qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open over the summer. Carding a 73, Heffel finished in a three-way tie and won a four-hole playoff by shooting four pars to qualify. The Mesa, Ariz., native was one of only five players to advance from the Scottsdale, Ariz., qualifier.
2003-04 Highlights
Kansas State’s women’s golf program chronicled a successful 2003-04 season, recording two team victories at the Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational and the Texas A&M Mo’Morial. The Wildcats also claimed 24 top-20 finishes individually, including Christine Boucher’s victories at the Chip-N Club Inviational, Price’s Give Em Five Challenge and Texas A&M Mo’Morial. Returning sophomore Helene Robert tied for fifth at the Notre Dame Adidas Invitational, with a combined 221. The Wildcats qualified for their fourth consecutive NCAA Regional bid, where they finished 15th at the Central Regional. Kansas State finished the season ranked No. 43 by Golfstat.
