Wildcats Start Spring Play in Florida

THE FORMAT: The Central Distict Invitational, hosted by Michigan State, will be on Monday, Feb. 18, and Tuesday, Feb. 19. Both days will be a shotgun start beginning at 8:00 a.m. (CT). The teams will play 36 holes on Monday followed by the final 18 holes on Tuesday. Tuesday’s final round pairings will be determined by the two rounds played Monday, and the low four individual scores will determine the team score for each round.

THE FIELD: K-State is 3-5-0 against the Central District Invitational field. The Big 10- and Big 12-heavy field includes Baylor, Indiana, Kansas State, Kent State, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Nebraska, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Southern Methodist, Texas and Texas A&M.

THE HOST – River Wilderness GC: The Ted McAnlis-designed River Wilderness Golf Course is located in Parrish, Fla., and borders the north shore of the Manatee River. The course is landscaped on 150 acres and is part of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System. It boasts a 27,000 square-foot clubhouse and a 3,800 square-foot athletic center on its grounds.

LAST TIME OUT: K-State finished its fall season by placing third of 20 teams in Kiawah, S.C., at the Edwin Watts/Palmetto Intercollegiate. The top-5 finish on the par 72, 5,933-yard Oak Point Golf Course was the Wildcats’ fourth top-5 placing during the five fall tournaments. Michelle Regan shot a 1-over par 217 to bring home second place. Kali Quick posted an 18-over par 238 to tie for 32^nd. Abbi Sunner was two strokes back after firing a 20-over par 236, tying for 38^th. Hailey Mireles was 22-over par, while Elise Houtz finished at 28-over par.

DYNAMIC DUO: K-State seniors Michelle Regan and Kali Quick have been leaders on the course for the Wildcats in their final seasons. They’ve brought home five top-5 finishes already during the 2007-2008 season, including one tournament win, and own the team’s two lowest stroke averages of the fall schedule. The pair has a combined 27 top-20 finishes in their collective careers and are looking to become four-time letterwinners for the Wildcats.

K-State’s Central district invitational Lineup:

Name Yr Hometown 07-08 Rds 07-08 Avg

Michelle Regan Sr Prairie Village, Kan. 14 76.14

Kali Quick Sr Nampa, Idaho 14 76.36

Abbi Sunner So Ankeny, Iowa 14 77.50

Hailey Mireles Sr Garden City, Kan. 14 79.29

Morgan Moon So Amarillo, Tex. 5 81.40

Spring Preview of the Wildcats: K-State women’s golf coach Kristi Knight looks for her team to continue the success from the fall as they take part in an exciting spring schedule. Seniors Michelle Regan and Kali Quick, along with sophomore Abbi Sunner, have been the most consistent players for the Wildcats halfway through the season. Regan owns a stroke average of 76.14 through five tournaments and won the Bronco Fall Invitational, the first win of her career. Quick had three top-5 placings during the fall and has a stroke average of 76.36. Sunner is right behind with a 77.50 average and finished in the top-20 three different times. Senior Hailey Mireles, junior Krista Nelson, sophomore Morgan Moon and freshmen Elise and Emily Houtz all gained valuable experience in the fall and look to contribute as the Wildcats travel to Florida, Nevada, Texas, and Arizona before heading to the Big 12 Tournament in Stillwater, Okla.