Women's Golf Kicks Off Spring Season At UCF Challenge
January 30, 2021 | Women's Golf
ORLANDO – The Mississippi State women's golf team opens its spring season this weekend, traveling to Orlando, Florida, to compete in the UCF Challenge on Jan. 31- Feb. 2.
The Bulldogs will play 54 holes over three days at the par-72, 6,349-yard Eagle Creek Golf Club against a 17-team field. The field consists of host UCF along with Arkansas, College of Charleston, Houston, Iowa State, Kennesaw State, Kent State, Kentucky, Miami, Michigan State, NC State, Penn State, Purdue, UNC-Wilmington, Virginia and Wake Forest.
Charlie Ewing, considered one of the top rising coaches in golf, was named Mississippi State's seventh head women's golf coach on Dec. 2, 2020. He had served as the assistant coach for the Mississippi State men's golf program under head coach Dusty Smith since the 2017-18 campaign, helping to build an active streak of back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances in the first two seasons of Smith's tenure. Ewing will make his head coaching debut this weekend, as the Bulldogs open their spring at the UCF Challenge.
State's lineup for the event is Ashley Gilliam, Hannah Levi, Clara Moyano, Blair Stockett and Abbey Daniel. MSU will tee off the opening round Sunday with an 8:00 a.m. ET start, accompanied by Houston and Kentucky. The Bulldogs play their final round on Tuesday.
"It's always really exciting competing in the first event of the Spring after the long break from competition over the winter months," said head coach Charlie Ewing. "I know there is a lot of eagerness and excitement built up within this team and I certainly share that with them. My expectations for the girls at this tournament are the same expectations I have for them every day back at home. Each day is a great opportunity to learn more about yourself and the team. We feel that we are well prepared, so at this point it's time to let loose, have some fun and just go play golf. Nothing can replace the feeling of wearing maroon and white and I know this team will do that very proudly."
Gilliam, who had a team-best 73.0 stroke average during the fall, recently earned an invitation to the prestigious 2021 Augusta National Women's Amateur. The field is made up of 72 of the top American and international amateur golfers and is played at the world-famous Augusta National Golf Club in March.
Gilliam, who missed part of the fall season, led the squad with three rounds of par or better during the fall. For her career, she ranks eighth in the MSU record book in that category with 16. She ranks fifth in the record books with five career rounds in the 60s.
Levi won the first individual title of her career at the 2020 Liz Murphey Fall Collegiate Classic. She was the first Bulldog to win a title since Jessica Peng won the 2017 UCF Challenge. All time, Mississippi State now has 27 individual championships in program history. She shot a 3-under 213 at the event. Her second-round score of 6-under 66 tied the fourth-lowest round in school history.
Levi and Stockett were tied for second with a 74.8 stroke average during the fall. Stockett recorded three rounds of par or better, while Levi totaled two such rounds.
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."
The Rundown
Schedule: Sunday-Tuesday, Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2021
Course: Eagle Creek Golf Club | Orlando, Fla.
Yardage: 6,349 yard – Par 72
Format: Play 5, count 4
Mississippi State Lineup
1. Ashley Gilliam, So.
2. Hannah Levi, R-So.
3. Clara Moyano, Gr.
4. Blair Stockett, Sr.
5. Abbey Daniel, So.
The Bulldogs will play 54 holes over three days at the par-72, 6,349-yard Eagle Creek Golf Club against a 17-team field. The field consists of host UCF along with Arkansas, College of Charleston, Houston, Iowa State, Kennesaw State, Kent State, Kentucky, Miami, Michigan State, NC State, Penn State, Purdue, UNC-Wilmington, Virginia and Wake Forest.
Charlie Ewing, considered one of the top rising coaches in golf, was named Mississippi State's seventh head women's golf coach on Dec. 2, 2020. He had served as the assistant coach for the Mississippi State men's golf program under head coach Dusty Smith since the 2017-18 campaign, helping to build an active streak of back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances in the first two seasons of Smith's tenure. Ewing will make his head coaching debut this weekend, as the Bulldogs open their spring at the UCF Challenge.
State's lineup for the event is Ashley Gilliam, Hannah Levi, Clara Moyano, Blair Stockett and Abbey Daniel. MSU will tee off the opening round Sunday with an 8:00 a.m. ET start, accompanied by Houston and Kentucky. The Bulldogs play their final round on Tuesday.
"It's always really exciting competing in the first event of the Spring after the long break from competition over the winter months," said head coach Charlie Ewing. "I know there is a lot of eagerness and excitement built up within this team and I certainly share that with them. My expectations for the girls at this tournament are the same expectations I have for them every day back at home. Each day is a great opportunity to learn more about yourself and the team. We feel that we are well prepared, so at this point it's time to let loose, have some fun and just go play golf. Nothing can replace the feeling of wearing maroon and white and I know this team will do that very proudly."
Gilliam, who had a team-best 73.0 stroke average during the fall, recently earned an invitation to the prestigious 2021 Augusta National Women's Amateur. The field is made up of 72 of the top American and international amateur golfers and is played at the world-famous Augusta National Golf Club in March.
Gilliam, who missed part of the fall season, led the squad with three rounds of par or better during the fall. For her career, she ranks eighth in the MSU record book in that category with 16. She ranks fifth in the record books with five career rounds in the 60s.
Levi won the first individual title of her career at the 2020 Liz Murphey Fall Collegiate Classic. She was the first Bulldog to win a title since Jessica Peng won the 2017 UCF Challenge. All time, Mississippi State now has 27 individual championships in program history. She shot a 3-under 213 at the event. Her second-round score of 6-under 66 tied the fourth-lowest round in school history.
Levi and Stockett were tied for second with a 74.8 stroke average during the fall. Stockett recorded three rounds of par or better, while Levi totaled two such rounds.
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."
The Rundown
Schedule: Sunday-Tuesday, Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2021
Course: Eagle Creek Golf Club | Orlando, Fla.
Yardage: 6,349 yard – Par 72
Format: Play 5, count 4
Mississippi State Lineup
1. Ashley Gilliam, So.
2. Hannah Levi, R-So.
3. Clara Moyano, Gr.
4. Blair Stockett, Sr.
5. Abbey Daniel, So.
Players Mentioned
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