NIU Women's Golf (host)

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- The Eastern Illinois women's golf squad hit the links to open up the spring portion of the Panther schedule, participating in two consecutive three-day meets. First, EIU will compete in the 24th Annual NIU Snowbird, followed by play at the Saint John's Invitational.

“Wish I could say that we are fully prepared,” said EIU head coach Mike Moncel. “But we really have not had many opportunities to get outside as of late, so it's hard to say where we are right now. The squad is a bit rusty right now, but are excited to be outside, wear shorts and enjoy the warm Florida weather.” 

Besides EIU, Creighton, and Indiana State represent the Missouri Valley Conference while Loyola and Youngstown State will attend the event from the Horizon League. Western Illinois , St. Francis and John A. Logan universities are three of six Illinois schools competing in the Florida invite, and will be joined by Trine, Western New Mexico, Baldwin Wallace and Methodist.

“Several other northern schools competing at this meet are in the same boat as we are right now, specifically in regard to the lack of true outdoor preparation.”

Moncel has tabbed the senior duo of Katie Imburgia and Jaymie Voorhees and newcomers Emily Calhoun, Kathryn Koester and Lauren Williams as this week's travel squad. “Unfortunately Calhoun has been battling a broken toe and the flu, so is questionable,” Moncel said. 

This past fall season, Voorhees led all players with a 78.6 stroke average, which included a Top Five finish at the Butler Fall Invite, as well as three other Top 10 performances.  Her classmate, Imburgia, had a second-best 80.9 average last autumn, earning two Top 10 finishes in her final fall season.

Moncel also said that weather predictions for the two events currently look pretty good. 

At the NIU Snowbird meet, the three-day invite will be played at the Peeblebrook Golf Course in Tampa, Fla., with a practice round set for Tuesday (March 9), and a Wednesday-Thursday meet to follow. The Panthers will then immediately travel to compete in the Saint John's Invite, which will be hosted by the Mission Inn Resort in Howey in the Hills, Fla.

“We should have time to at least walk-thru the St. John's course during the practice round after opening at the NIU event," Moncel said.  "So we'll try to get a quick look at some of the more challenging holes, at least.

“Overall, I'm just excited to see how we play this week.”

After these two events, the squad will hopefully get to enjoy the much improved East Central Illinois weather and take advantage of some outside play opportunities in preparation for their next invite, set for March 27-29 at Southern Illinois.  The Hickory Ridge Golf Course will host to the three-day event.

... for more info, contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID