University of Minnesota Athletics
GOLDEN GOPHER GOLFERS SET TO OPEN SPRING SEASON
2/22/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT - The Midwest Classic, hosted by Northwestern, will be played on the par 72, 5,838-yard Hyatt Bear Creek (West) course in Dallas. The three-day tournament will consist of 18 holes per day.
LAST YEAR'S MIDWEST CLASSIC - Minnesota won the 13-team tournament with a score of 627, led by former Gopher Michelle Ballou's second-place total of 152. Junior Jenny Bruun (Crookston, Minn./Central) is the top returning Minnesota golfer, tying for 20th a year ago with a total of 163.
STORDAHL LEADS THE TEAM IN THE FALL SEASON - Newcomer Karyn Stordahl (Owatonna, Minn./Owatonna) competed in all five fall tournaments for Minnesota, leading the team with a 77.77 stroke average in 13 rounds. That mark is the 17th-best fall average in Minnesota history. Stordahl had four finishes in the top seven, including a low three-round score of 227, Minnesota's second-best 54-hole total of the season.
STIER STARTS STRONG - Sophomore Megan Stier (Belle Plaine, Minn./Belle Plaine) started the season on a high note, tying for first at the Minnesota Invitational. She pushed Eastern Michigan's Stephanie Smoot to six playoff holes before falling. Stier finished the fall season second on the team in stroke average (79.00).
THREE PLAY ALL FIVE - Karyn Stordahl, Megan Stier and sophomore Cindy Cannon (Big Lake, Minn./Monticello) each competed in all five fall tournaments for Minnesota. Cannon averaged 81.54 in 13 rounds.
LOW ROUNDS - The Gophers recorded a low 54-hole score of 940 in the final fall meet, the Shootout at the Legends. Minnesota's low score for a round was 305 in the second round at the Shootout.
Sophomore Beth Hollatz (Redwood Falls, Minn./ Redwood Valley) had Minnesota's low individual score for a round, scoring an even-par 72 in the third round at the Minnesota Invitational. Jenny Bruun recorded a one- over-par 73 in the second round at the Shootout, while Megan Stier had a one-over-par 73 in the first round of the Minnesota Invitational.
STARTING OUT RIGHT - The Gophers won the Minnesota Invitational on Sept. 13 at the Les Bolstad Golf Course, outlasting Eastern Michigan in one playoff hole. Minnesota rebounded from a seven-shot deficit in the final round to force the playoff.
UP NEXT - Minnesota competes next at the Peggy Kirk Bell Invitational in Winter Springs, Fla., on March 13-14.
