Kangaroo women kick off spring season in Louisiana tournament

Though a trip to Southern Maid Donuts might have been on the agenda, the UMKC women's golf team traveled into Cajun country over the weekend focused to put an intent face on the spring golf season at the 2008 Centenary Ladies Spring Invitational in Haughton, La.

The event marks the first in which recently appointed women's coach Courtney Mahon has taken part. The five-team field for the event included Centenary College (CC), the host school; Houston Baptist; IUPUI; UMKC; and North Dakota State University (NDSU).

Mahon, a four year letter winner at the University of Arkansas brought her two years of experience as part of Razorback squads that participated in the NCAA Championship tournament, to UMKC with high aspirations in mind.

Six team members participated in the tournament but team play was reserved for seniors Whitney Davis and Trish Randall along with sophomores Cherise Erickson, Sally Meiners and Jessica Fleming. Junior Mary Beth Fisher entered as an individual player for the tournament.

The first round of the opening tournament of the spring proved challenging as just Cherise Erickson was able to finish with a round better than 90. No other squad in the tournament had more than one of their five allotted players score above that mark.

NDSU's squad proved to be the most consistent with four players scoring in the low 80's. Their overall score of 330 out-distanced the second place Centenary Ladies by just four strokes. UMKC's score of 360 fell well short of the top and currently reside in the fifth spot with one round of golf yet to be played on Sunday.

dstroud@unews.com