Oklahoma State Cowgirls open season with high hopes
STILLWATER – Last season, the Oklahoma State women’s golf team won its ninth Big 12 team title and advanced to the NCAA Championships, where it earned an 11th place finish.
Not bad for a bunch of underclassmen.
The Cowgirls return their entire lineup for the 2016-17 campaign, which begins on Monday at the Branch Law Firm Dick McGuire Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Head coach Courtney Jones said her locker room is poised to build on last season.
“There’s still a lot of potential that we can tap into,” said Cowgirl head coach Courtney Jones. “I really think the sky’s the limit with this group.”
Led by now-senior Linnea Johansson, the Cowgirls led the nation in birdies last season. OSU posted 563 birdies as a team, which is 33 more than second-place Washington. Johansson, a Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-American, led all players with 132 on the year.
Kenzie Neisen wasn’t far behind in seventh with 118 birdies. Now a junior, Neisen won the Big 12 individual title in each of her first two seasons in Stillwater.
Johansson and Neisen will be joined in the Cowgirl starting lineup by All-Big 12 Tournament team selection Emma Broze, as well as Alexis Sadeghy and Isabella Deilert.
The Cowgirls will begin the year at No. 9 in the Golfweek national preseason rankings, and they will face off against eight other top-30 squads in New Mexico on Monday and Tuesday.
The Details
Event: 38th annual Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational
Dates: Sept. 12-13
Site / Course: Albuqurque, New Mexico / University Course
Host: University of New Mexico
Par / Yardage: 72 / 6,317
Live Stats: Birdiefire (https://www.birdiefire.com/tournament/27847/)
Oklahoma State Starting Five
1. Linnea Johansson (32nd career start for OSU)
2. Alexis Sadeghy (17th career start)
3. Isabella Deilert (28th career start)
4. Kenzie Neisen (32nd career start)
5. Emma Broze (18th career start)
The Field (Golfweek Preseason Ranking)
New Mexico
Arizona (12)
Arizona State (2)
Baylor
California (14)
UC-Davis
Colorado (25)
Denver
Iowa State (22)
UNLV (24)
Northwestern (8)
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State (9)
Pepperdine (29)
San Diego State
Washington State