Off the Tee
The Kansas State Wildcats open the 2004 fall season at the Ptarmigan/Ram Fall Classic in Ft. Collins, Colo., Sept. 13-14. This is the first time the Cats have competed in this event. The 54-hole tournament will shotgun start Monday at 8:30 a.m. at the Ptarmigan Country Club. Teams will play 36 holes Monday and shotgun start the final 18 again at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

For Openers
The Wildcats have experienced success in the fall opening tournament the past three years, finishing in the top 3 each season. At the Fall 2003 opener at the Chip-N Club Invitational, K-State finished second with rounds of 307-321-307935. During the same event in 2002, the Cats carded a third-place finish with a combined 919. K-State finished third at the Alltel Husker Invitational in the Fall 2001 opener, shooting 313-300-301914.

First in the Fall
For the past three seasons, the Wildcats have won an event during the fall outings. In both 2002 and 2003, K-State took the team title at the Sunflower Invitational, with combined marks of 903 and 925, respectively. In 2001, the Cats won the Sunflower Showdown.

Walking Into the Lineup
Freshman Hailey Mireles joined the Wildcat squad as a walk-on this fall, quickly earned a book scholarship and then merited a spot in the K-State lineup for the first event of the season. The Garden City, Kan., native finished in the top 10 at state competition all four yearsduring her high school career. “She’s got a great attitude,” head coach Kristi Knight said. “With experience and opportunity, she will just continue to improve.”

Making the Open
Senior Sarah Heffel qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open over the summer. Carding a 73, Heffel finished in a three-way tie and won a four-hole playoff by shooting four pars to qualify. The Mesa, Ariz., native was one of only five players to advance from the Scottsdale, Ariz., qualifier.

Knight Time
Head coach Kristi Knight begins her tenth campaign with the Wildcats this fall. Under Knight, K-State has recorded five tournament wins, including the Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational and the Texas A&M Mo’Morial during the 2003-04 season. The Texas native and Oklahoma alum has coached Wildcat teams to four straight NCAA Regional  appearances
and 32 top-five finishes.

2003-04 Highlights
Kansas State’s women’s golf program chronicled a successful 2003-04 season, recording two team victories at the Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational and the Texas A&M Mo’Morial. The Wildcats also claimed 24 top-20 finishes individually, including Christine Boucher’s victories at the Chip-N Club Inviational, Price’s Give Em Five Challenge and Texas A&M Mo’Morial. Returning sophomore Helene Robert tied for fifth at the Notre Dame Adidas Invitational, with a combined 221. The Wildcats qualified for their fourth consecutive NCAA Regional bid, where they finished 15th at the Central Regional. Kansas State finished the season ranked No. 43  by Golfstat.