The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels in Arizona for MountainView Collegiate
3/9/2017 | Women's Golf
TUCSON, Ariz - The Ole Miss women's golf team improved its score by 29 strokes from its first spring tournament to its second, and now the Rebels will look to take the next step against some strong competition in the MountainView Collegiate Invitational.
Four top-50 teams join the Rebels in the desert, including No. 20 Arizona and No. 25 Oklahoma. Ole Miss is one of several squads in this weekend's field just on the fringe of that top 50, including the tournament host, fellow Southeastern Conference member Missouri.
"It is a really good field this week," said head coach Kory Henkes. "A couple of top-25 teams. It's always a great opportunity for our team to play against some of the best teams in the country. Obviously, if we want to make it to the next level at NCAA Regionals, we're going to need to play well against these teams. It only helps your rankings when you play in a good, strong field."
Qualifying Battles Continue
Senior Madisen Bentley will lead Ole Miss at the top of the lineup this week, the team's sixth unique lineup in seven tournaments. The University Place, Washington native finished first in this week's qualifier, one stroke ahead of her roommate, junior Katy Harris.
Bentley has been playing excellent golf of late, shooting a team-high 223 to finish in a tie for 15th in The Gold Rush just over a week ago. Harris was tied for second after the first round in Ole Miss' last event, but the St. Simons Island, Georgia native couldn't replicate her blazing 70-stroke opening round over the final 36 holes.
Absent from the MountainView lineup is last week's No. 1, freshman Pi-Lillebi Hermansson. The Djursholm, Sweden native had played in every tournament so far this season, leaving senior Maria Toennessen as the lone Rebel to have played in all seven events. Toennessen sits in the fifth slot this week, another testament to just how competitive this Rebel roster has become.
"Madisen led the way in our qualifiers. She posted some good scores. Katy was only one shot behind, so it was a pretty good qualifier," Henkes said. "At this point in the season we have several girls who could qualify each and every week, so it's really a battle. You have to play some of your best golf for each tournament, because anyone could make that lineup."
Sophomores Kie Purdom and Martina Flori hold the No. 3 and No. 4 slots, respectively. Purdom is making her third straight appearance for the Rebels, while Flori is lacing up in her sixth tournament this season.
Rebels Return to The Grand Canyon State
The Rebels are competing in Arizona for the fifth straight season, having taken part in Notre Dame's Clover Cup in Mesa each of the last four years. Henkes enters the weekend confident that her crew can succeed at the desert course that awaits them in Tucson.
"I've heard it's a very scoreable course, where if you hit the shots in the right place, it can lead to a lot of birdies," Henkes said.
The MountainView Collegiate will be the Rebels' fourth three-day tournament this season. Ole Miss has been stronger on average in three-day as opposed to two-day events. Henkes' group is averaging a finish of 8.67 and a 54-hole score of 903.67 in two-day tournaments. In three-day events, the Rebels boast an average finish of sixth and an average score at 883.
Ole Miss will tee off at 9:30 a.m. CT for 18 holes.
Course Snapshot
MountainView Golf Club
Tucson, Arizona
Par: 72
Yardage: 6,227
Ole Miss Lineup
1. Madisen Bentley, Senior
2. Katy Harris, Junior
3. Kie Purdom, Sophomore
4. Martina Flori, Sophomore
5. Maria Toennessen, Senior
The Field
No. 20 Arizona
Central Arkansas
Colorado State
Houston
No. 44 Kansas State (Host)
Middle Tennessee State
Missouri (Host)
New Mexico State
North Texas
No. 25 Oklahoma
Ole Miss
Redlands CC
No. 47 UNLV
For all Ole Miss women's golf news and information, go to OleMissSports.com, and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissWGolf and Facebook at Ole Miss Women's Golf.
Players Mentioned
