Courtesy of Wyoming Athletics
MARICOPA, Ariz. – The Wyoming women’s golf team made a strong opening statement in the program’s postseason debut.
The Cowgirls lead the 10-team Women’s National Golf Invitational (NGI) by nine strokes after shooting a collective 287 (1-under par) in the first round Friday on the par-72, 6,304-yard Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club.
Bradley and Rutgers are tied for second place at +8 entering Saturday’s second round of the 54-hole tournament.
“The team just continues to amaze me with their resilience and competitive spirit,” UW head coach Josey Stender said. “They all managed the course very well even when they had errant shots and stayed patient. The course set up is a little different than when we host, but I felt they adjusted and played confidently.”
Kiley Reisner, the third all-Mountain West player in UW history, is alone atop the leaderboard after shooting 69 (-3). Last month on this course, the true freshman tied for fourth individually and set a new program record for lowest event score after finishing the Cowgirl Classic with a 207 (-9).
After carding a 35 (-1) on the front nine, Reisner birdied Nos. 15 and 16 down the stretch to pull ahead of Coastal Carolina’s Varatkarn Kunkaew (-2) and Bradley’s Caroline McConnell (-2) for the individual lead.
“Kiley is in a great spot,” Stender said. “She would say she left a lot out there, but I think that is a credit to her growth as an athlete,” Stender said.
Reisner won the Thunderbird Classic and Bobcat Desert Classic to become the first UW player to win two tournaments in the same year since 1989 when Kelly Meyers won the Jacoby Collegiate Invite and the Air Force Falcon Invite. Jordan Lintz holds the program record for most individual tournament wins with three (1998 Cowgirl Challenge, 1999 Fighting Camel Classic and 2000 Mountain West Championship).
The Cowgirls’ entire lineup played well during the opening round of the NGI. Junior Elle Higgins (-1) is tied for fourth, senior Meghan Vogt is tied for seventh and sophomores Kira Reisner (+2) and Emerson Purcell (+2) are tied for 13th with 36 holes remaining.
“I’m so proud we have all of our girls in the top 15 to start strong,” Stender said. “To have 17 birdies as a team is incredible.”
NGI Team Scores
1. Wyoming – 287 (-1)
2. Bradley – 296 (+8)
2. Rutgers – 296 (+8)
4. Denver – 298 (+10)
4. Stetson – 298 (+10)
6. Lipscomb – 301 (+13)
7. Mercer – 303 (+15)
8. Bowling Green State – 304 (+16)
9. Missouri State – 306 (+18)
10. Coastal Carolina – 307 (+19)
Cowgirls Team Scores
1. Kiley Reisner – 69 (-3)
T4. Elle Higgins – 71 (-1)
T7. Meghan Vogt – 73 (+1)
T13. Kira Reisner – 74 (+2)
T13. Emerson Purcell – 74 (+2)
