EVANSVILLE, Ind. - After a winter away from competition, the University of Evansville men's and women's golf teams open the spring at the Alabama State Spring Kickoff at Lagoon Park Golf Course on Monday and Tuesday in Montgomery, Ala.
Evansville's men were last on the course in competition at the Bill Ross Intercollegiate in Overland Park, Kan. in October where senior Tyler Gray paced the Aces. Gray fired a pair of 1-over 73s on the opening day before concluding the fall season with a 4-over 76 as he finished in a tie for 16th place with a three-round total of 222.
Junior Noah Reese was the second-lowest Ace in the intercollegiate as the Newburgh, Ind. native shot a final-round 79 to give him 226 on the weekend and place Reese in a tie for 35th. Sophomore Matthew Ladd finished just two strokes off Reese's total with a 228, finishing in a tie for 43rd, while sophomore Cameron Weyer finished with a three-round total of 232 and freshman Jessie Brumley recorded a total of 242.
In the Alabama State Spring Kickoff, the Aces are joined by eight other squads including Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Arkansas - Pine Bluff, Chicago State, Eastern Illinois, Morehouse, and West Alabama.
The spring schedule features five tournaments for the Aces before heading into the MVC Tournament in late April. Following the Alabama State Spring Kickoff, the Aces travel to Daytona Beach, Fla. for the Lonnie Barton Invitational on March 5 and 6 before taking a weekend off and returning to competition March 18 through the 20 at the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate in Sevierville, Tenn.
On March 31 and April 1, Evansville heads to Normal, Ill. for the D.A. Weibring Invitational, followed by a trip to Nashville, Tenn. for the Big Blue Intercollegiate on April 9 and 10. After concluding the regular season, the Aces head to the Missouri Valley Conference Championship at Dalhouse Golf Course in Cape Girardeau, Mo. on April 23 and 24.
The last time the Aces' women's team hit the links in competition was at its home event, the Braun Intercollegiate at Oak Meadow Country Club in Evansville. Shortened to just a single round due to inclement weather, junior Maria Pickens and freshman Sophia Rohleder paced the Aces with rounds of 82, placing the duo in a tie for 29th.
Senior Giulia Mallman and junior Madison Chaney both recorded rounds of 87, tying them for 58th, while freshman Minka Gill posted a single-round total of 90. Individually, sophomore Lexie Sollman carded a round of 87, placing her in a tie for 29th with Pickens and Rohleder.
Evansville is accompanied by Alabama State, Alcorn State, Maryland - Eastern Shore, and West Alabama at the Alabama State Spring Kickoff.
The early portion of the Aces' men's and women's schedules mirror each other as Evansville's golf teams will join each other for the first three tournaments at the Alabama State Spring Kickoff, the Lonnie Barton Invitational, and the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate. On March 26 and 27, the Aces travel to Maumelle, Ark. for the Arkansas Little Rock Intercollegiate before wrapping-up their pre-MVC Tournament slate at the Indiana State Intercollegiate on April 8 and 9 in Terre Haute, Ind.
Following the conclusion of the regular season, Evansville travels to Newton, Kan. for the MVC Championship on April 15, 16, and 17.
Play begins Monday morning at Lagoon Park Golf Course in Montgomery, Alabama, a par 72 course that measures 6,800 yards from the back tees. Fans are permitted to attend Monday and Tuesday's action.
