MSU Travels To Oklahoma To Open 2016 Fall Slate
September 23, 2016 | Women's Golf
STARKVILLE, Miss. – After much preparation and practice, the Mississippi State women's golf team opens the fall season with a trip to Oklahoma for the Schooner Fall Classic.
Ginger Brown-Lemm's squad begins the three-round event at Belmar Golf Club with 18 holes on Saturday. State will play its second round on Sunday before closing the tournament with Monday's final 18 holes.
The Bulldogs have been excellent in the Schooner Fall Classic. In 2014, the event's second year, former All-American and current LPGA tour player Ally McDonald set the club's individual 54-hole record with a 63. That total gave her individual medalist honors as well as helped Mississippi State hoist the team title with a record 22-under-par.
A year later, MSU had another phenomenal showing, finishing third after inclement weather cancelled the final round.
With a talented mix of veterans and newcomers, Brown-Lemm takes her squad to Oklahoma looking for another solid showing.
The Schooner Fall Classic has always been special for Mississippi State because it helps the Toby Keith Foundation raise funds for the OK Kids Korral, a 25,000 square foot facility in Oklahoma City that serves the needs of pediatric cancer patients cost free.
"We are very excited to open the season in one of our favorite events," Brown-Lemm said. "It is always great fun, and this is a particularly favorite event because it benefits the OK Kids Korral, a project of the Toby Keith Foundation that helps provide a home away from home for children with cancer while receiving treatment in Norman. After the second round, we always load up and go play with the children who are at the facility receiving their treatments. It is always so rewarding to have that opportunity."
The Bulldogs have their work cut out for them as the 12-teams field includes four Top 25 teams.
Seniors Ji Eun Baik and All-American Jessica Peng anchor the Bulldog lineup. Baik finished 13th in last year's Schooner Fall Classic, firing her lowest round of the season with an opening-round 66. That finish was one of three Top-25 showings for the Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., native, who also added a Top-10 finish to her season ledger.
Peng led the Bulldogs at Belmar Golf Club a year ago, taking sixth place with back-to-back rounds of 69. The Taoyuan, Taiwan, native led MSU last season with a 74.3 scoring average.
Freshman Athena Yang qualified in the third spot for her collegiate debut. Sophomore Katie Holt earned her first appearance in the Schooner Fall Classic after playing in five events last season as a rookie.
Fellow freshman Teri Doss joins Yang in making her Bulldog debut, while Izel Pieters will compete as an individual after tying for 16th in the tournament last season with an even-par 142.
"Historically we have played well at this tournament, and I'm looking forward to doing the same this year," Brown-Lemm said. "Our two freshmen (Yang and Doss) will be making their collegiate debuts, and I'm excited to see us get out on the course and compete."
The tournament will tee off at 9 a.m., with live stats provided via Birdiefire.com.
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