MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Wildcats look to get back in the swing of things when the Kansas State women’s golf team travels to the Lone Star state for the Texas A&M “Mo”morial on March 10. The three-day tournament is the second of the spring season, as K-State finished 13th in the spring opener on Feb. 21. The “Mo”morial will be held at the Traditions Club, which will host the NCAA Central Regionals in mid-May.

THE FIELD:  The 18-team field consists of all but two central district competitors and many of the best in the nation. Ten of the teams are ranked in the top 50, with #9 Arkansas, second in the district, as the best in the tournament. Host Texas A&M comes in as the 20th-ranked team in the nation, third in the central district. Also in the top 50 are Kent State (23), Baylor (26), SMU (27), Missouri (34), Nebraska (37), Tulsa (39), Notre Dame (40) and TCU (45). Rounding out the field are Oregon State, Kansas, Oklahoma, UTEP, Wisconsin, Iowa State, and Redlands CC. 

PLAYING HOST Traditions Club:  Located five miles from Texas A&M’s campus, Traditions Club has been home to the Aggies since November 2003. Traditions consists of an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus II designed golf course, as well as a tennis, swim and fitness center and learning center for the student-athletes. Legendary golfer Nicklaus and his son were present for the grand opening in which the pair competed in a round of golf. This season marks the second time for the course to host the Texas A&M “Mo”Morial.

LAST TIME OUT:  K-State started the spring off slow at the Central District Invitational, where the squad placed 13th of the 14 participants. With rounds of 315-309-313937, the Wildcats had their highest score of the season. Not all was lost as the team went away from the tournament with the 12th individual top-20 placing on the year. Sophomore Kali Quick tied for 11th after shooting a season low 74-77-75226, 10-over par. Quick now leads the Wildcats in top-20 finishes this season with four. Juniors Katy Heffel and Helene Robert tied for 51st, shooting three-round totals of 237. Sophomore Hailey Mireles tied for 57th, two shots behind Heffel and Robert. Freshman Krista Nelson competed in her first collegiate tournament, finishing 66th.

TEXAS A&M “MO”MORIAL HISTORY:  Although seeing four name changes, the Wildcats are familiar with the “Mo”Morial tournament. Going back nine straight years, the spring season has featured the “Mo”Morial. Known for its toughness to the Cats, the team did champion the tournament in spring 2004. After firing rounds of 292-313-304909, the team earned the school’s seventh tournament win, which remains as the last team title for K-State. Individual Wildcat medalists have also emerged from the “Mo”Morial. Former Wildcat Christine Boucher took first twice first in 2001 after shooting 218 and in 2004 with a three-round score of 219. Miranda Smith also medalled, placing third in 2003.

TEXAS TOURNEYS: The most frequently visited state by the Wildcats, by far, since the 1999-2000 season has been Texas. Out of 68 tournaments, 18 trips more than one-quarter were made to the Lone Star state. Results have been mixed, as the Cats have taken the team title once (in the 2003-04 season), but have also finished in the bottom half, including a 15th-place finish last year. Last season alone K-State travelled to Texas four times, placing 15th, tying for 12th, 14th, and eighth. The last tournament in the state was for the Big 12 Championships in April, when the Wildcat squad had its third best finish in the conference showdown, shooting 320-314-317951.

K-State’s Texas A&M “Mo”Morial Lineup

Name                                      Yr.     Hometown             Rnds               Avg.

Katy Heffel                               Jr.     Mesa, Ariz.                 18                  78.94

Hailey Mireles                          So.     Garden City, Kan.       18                  78.78

Kali Quick                                So.     Nampa, Idaho              18                  76.72

Helene Robert                           Jr.     Lac Brome, Quebec   18                  76.67

Michelle Regan                        So.     Prairie Village, Kan.    15                  78.00

*Krista Nelson                           Fr.     Overland Park, Kan.    3                   81.00

*competing as an individual