Bulldogs Earn Top-25 Ranking After Strong Fall Slate
December 02, 2019 | Women's Golf
by Shelby Spurlock, Student Assistant/Communications
STARKVILLE -- After a strong fall slate, the Mississippi State Women's golf team sits at No. 22 in the GolfWeek rankings.
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The Bulldogs placed inside the top half of four of their five tournaments, including a pair of impressive top-3 finishes against elite fields at the Schooner Fall Classic and the Magnolia Invitational. Â
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Entering the final day, MSU was in sixth place at Schooner, but the Bulldogs shot 5-under on the back nine of the Belmar Golf Club. The late push earned State a third-place finish and gave the team plenty of momentum heading into the Magnolia Invitational two weeks later.
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Due to an inclement weather forecast, Mississippi State women's golf capped off its home tournament by playing 36 holes at Old Waverly Golf Club. The Bulldogs earned their best finish of the fall in second place among an SEC-heavy event behind four top-20 finishes.
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MSU shot two team-low rounds of 279 (-9) in the first round at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational and third round at the Magnolia Invitational to fuel the fall season. Including veteran and freshman Bulldogs, the team displayed its skillset by competing at the highest level against top teams from around the country.
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Leading Mississippi State, freshman Ashley Gilliam is ranked 52nd in the nation after earning three top-10 finishes. Competing in all 15 rounds, she shot the lowest round (65) and lowest 54 (208) of the fall season. Gilliam also tied the MSU freshman record for rounds of par or better with 10, matching the mark set by Jessica Peng during the 2013-14 season.
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Clara Moyano averaged a 72.33 stroke average this fall after several low tournament rounds. Also competing in all 15 rounds, she accumulated seven rounds of par of better. Moyano led the Schooner Fall Classic in 1st place after round one, shooting a career-best round of 66 and topping her career top finish, tying for 11th place.
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Competing as the most experienced member on the team, junior Aubree Jones had another record season, securing four top-25 finishes. Jones contributed to the team's 10 lowest rounds, including shooting 69 (3-under par) in the first round at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational as well as the third round at the Mason Rudolph Invitational.
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Competing in two events, senior Athena Yang shot the fifth-best round of season at the Magnolia Invitational, carding a final round score of 68 (4-under par). Junior Blair Stockett also displayed her talent at the home event, where she tied for third and shot a career-best score of 66 (6-under par) in the final round, the best round of the season by a Bulldog.
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Also shooting her best round in the final round of the Magnolia Invitational, sophomore Lauren Miller finished tied for 16th at the home event, marking it her second-best finish of her career. Freshman Abbey Daniel shot her best round of 69 and best total score of 216 to tie for 34th at the Schooner Fall Classic this fall. Daniel competed in the last four events, missing only the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational.
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The spring season will begin in Peoria, Arizona, on Feb. 23, as the Bulldogs compete in the Westbrook Spring Invitational. State will return to The Grand Canyon State in mid-March for the Clover Cup.
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After that, MSU will take on back-to-back tournaments hosted by SEC schools, beginning with Georgia's Liz Murphy Invitational on March 20-22 followed by Auburn's Evans Derby Experience on March 28-30. These two events will be Mississippi State's final tune-up before the SEC Championship in Birmingham, Alabama, on April 15-19.
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For more information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU women's golf on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateWG."
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STARKVILLE -- After a strong fall slate, the Mississippi State Women's golf team sits at No. 22 in the GolfWeek rankings.
Â
The Bulldogs placed inside the top half of four of their five tournaments, including a pair of impressive top-3 finishes against elite fields at the Schooner Fall Classic and the Magnolia Invitational. Â
Â
Entering the final day, MSU was in sixth place at Schooner, but the Bulldogs shot 5-under on the back nine of the Belmar Golf Club. The late push earned State a third-place finish and gave the team plenty of momentum heading into the Magnolia Invitational two weeks later.
Â
Due to an inclement weather forecast, Mississippi State women's golf capped off its home tournament by playing 36 holes at Old Waverly Golf Club. The Bulldogs earned their best finish of the fall in second place among an SEC-heavy event behind four top-20 finishes.
Â
MSU shot two team-low rounds of 279 (-9) in the first round at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational and third round at the Magnolia Invitational to fuel the fall season. Including veteran and freshman Bulldogs, the team displayed its skillset by competing at the highest level against top teams from around the country.
Â
Leading Mississippi State, freshman Ashley Gilliam is ranked 52nd in the nation after earning three top-10 finishes. Competing in all 15 rounds, she shot the lowest round (65) and lowest 54 (208) of the fall season. Gilliam also tied the MSU freshman record for rounds of par or better with 10, matching the mark set by Jessica Peng during the 2013-14 season.
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Clara Moyano averaged a 72.33 stroke average this fall after several low tournament rounds. Also competing in all 15 rounds, she accumulated seven rounds of par of better. Moyano led the Schooner Fall Classic in 1st place after round one, shooting a career-best round of 66 and topping her career top finish, tying for 11th place.
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Competing as the most experienced member on the team, junior Aubree Jones had another record season, securing four top-25 finishes. Jones contributed to the team's 10 lowest rounds, including shooting 69 (3-under par) in the first round at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational as well as the third round at the Mason Rudolph Invitational.
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Competing in two events, senior Athena Yang shot the fifth-best round of season at the Magnolia Invitational, carding a final round score of 68 (4-under par). Junior Blair Stockett also displayed her talent at the home event, where she tied for third and shot a career-best score of 66 (6-under par) in the final round, the best round of the season by a Bulldog.
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Also shooting her best round in the final round of the Magnolia Invitational, sophomore Lauren Miller finished tied for 16th at the home event, marking it her second-best finish of her career. Freshman Abbey Daniel shot her best round of 69 and best total score of 216 to tie for 34th at the Schooner Fall Classic this fall. Daniel competed in the last four events, missing only the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational.
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The spring season will begin in Peoria, Arizona, on Feb. 23, as the Bulldogs compete in the Westbrook Spring Invitational. State will return to The Grand Canyon State in mid-March for the Clover Cup.
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After that, MSU will take on back-to-back tournaments hosted by SEC schools, beginning with Georgia's Liz Murphy Invitational on March 20-22 followed by Auburn's Evans Derby Experience on March 28-30. These two events will be Mississippi State's final tune-up before the SEC Championship in Birmingham, Alabama, on April 15-19.
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For more information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU women's golf on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateWG."
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Players Mentioned
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