Kansas City Women’s Golf Spring Preview
2/20/2020 2:27:00 PM | Women's Golf
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas City Women's Golf program is ready to begin its 2020 spring season, under the direction of 11-year head coach Brianna Portmann. The Roos are competing in their 33rd season overall and are scheduled to swing it at six events, culminating in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Championships April 26-28 in Kerrville, Texas at the Riverhill Country Club.
"It is the team's expectation to have the best season in program history," said Portmann. "Everyone is hungry and determined to be the best student-athlete they can be. We made some great strides late into our fall season and are looking to build on that success as we compete in each event this spring."
The line-up offers five golfers with experience in a Kansas City outfit. Those five individuals include senior Jaime Bellingham, junior Victoria Pavlik, sophomores Kenni Henson, and Megan Lucas and freshman Hayley Jones^.
Coming off perhaps the best fall season of anyone, Bellingham had the lowest stroke average (75.9) through 12 rounds. She finished with three of the four lowest rounds, including an even-par 72, third round at the Little Rock Golf Classic in late October. Teammate Megan Lucas, who was No. 2 on the squad in fall stroke average (76.4), is another lady that provides leadership and experience on the course.
"Bellingham and Lucas are the two ladies who we look to for leadership amongst the team," said Portmann. "They both have a fire inside of them to excel beyond any expectation and will do whatever it takes. Megan has had tremendous growth in the past year-and-a-half, and she is not done yet. Her success, paired with Jaime's tenacity to excel, will lift this team forward and make it a year to remember."
The previously-mentioned Little Rock Golf Classic was the best result for the Roos in the fall season. As a team, the unit shot a +47-over par 911. The first-round 301 was the low score carded during the fall season.
A highlight during the spring is the eighth annual Kansas City Intercollegiate, which occurs at The Golf Club of Creekmoor in Raymore, Mo., from April 13 – 14. Last year, the Roos tied for fourth out of 10 teams, with Bellingham as the highest returning finisher tying for 27th individually (76-78-82=236).
"Having our home event is a special weekend for us," commented Portmann. "We don't just compete in front of family and friends, we celebrate the family we've become."
The Roos tee-off for the first time at the Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational from Friday through Sunday. The event is hosted by Western Michigan University and takes place at the Rio Verde (Ariz.) Country Club. Due to health concerns, a fifth golfer is not travelling so the Roos will compete as a team.
"This year, our team has had to overcome adversity, and that continues this week as we will be competing with only four players," said Portmann. "I expect this team will accept it as just another hurdle they must overcome and they will find a way to prevail together."
In last year's Rio Verde event shortened to two rounds due to weather, Kansas City gathered a 16th-place finish overall . Bellingham walked to the clubhouse tied for 34th individually (80-73=153).
Click HERE for a complete list of the 2020 schedule. Follow along for updates on the Kansas City Women's Golf twitter page @KCRoosWGolf
Hear from coach Portmann on her expectations for Henson, Jones and Pavlik:
"It is the team's expectation to have the best season in program history," said Portmann. "Everyone is hungry and determined to be the best student-athlete they can be. We made some great strides late into our fall season and are looking to build on that success as we compete in each event this spring."
The line-up offers five golfers with experience in a Kansas City outfit. Those five individuals include senior Jaime Bellingham, junior Victoria Pavlik, sophomores Kenni Henson, and Megan Lucas and freshman Hayley Jones^.
Coming off perhaps the best fall season of anyone, Bellingham had the lowest stroke average (75.9) through 12 rounds. She finished with three of the four lowest rounds, including an even-par 72, third round at the Little Rock Golf Classic in late October. Teammate Megan Lucas, who was No. 2 on the squad in fall stroke average (76.4), is another lady that provides leadership and experience on the course.
"Bellingham and Lucas are the two ladies who we look to for leadership amongst the team," said Portmann. "They both have a fire inside of them to excel beyond any expectation and will do whatever it takes. Megan has had tremendous growth in the past year-and-a-half, and she is not done yet. Her success, paired with Jaime's tenacity to excel, will lift this team forward and make it a year to remember."
The previously-mentioned Little Rock Golf Classic was the best result for the Roos in the fall season. As a team, the unit shot a +47-over par 911. The first-round 301 was the low score carded during the fall season.
A highlight during the spring is the eighth annual Kansas City Intercollegiate, which occurs at The Golf Club of Creekmoor in Raymore, Mo., from April 13 – 14. Last year, the Roos tied for fourth out of 10 teams, with Bellingham as the highest returning finisher tying for 27th individually (76-78-82=236).
"Having our home event is a special weekend for us," commented Portmann. "We don't just compete in front of family and friends, we celebrate the family we've become."
The Roos tee-off for the first time at the Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational from Friday through Sunday. The event is hosted by Western Michigan University and takes place at the Rio Verde (Ariz.) Country Club. Due to health concerns, a fifth golfer is not travelling so the Roos will compete as a team.
"This year, our team has had to overcome adversity, and that continues this week as we will be competing with only four players," said Portmann. "I expect this team will accept it as just another hurdle they must overcome and they will find a way to prevail together."
In last year's Rio Verde event shortened to two rounds due to weather, Kansas City gathered a 16th-place finish overall . Bellingham walked to the clubhouse tied for 34th individually (80-73=153).
Click HERE for a complete list of the 2020 schedule. Follow along for updates on the Kansas City Women's Golf twitter page @KCRoosWGolf
Hear from coach Portmann on her expectations for Henson, Jones and Pavlik:
- I'd like to say that each and every one of the ladies committed to this team can have a knockout season. That's how talented these young ladies are.
- I see an energy in Hayley Jones that will propel her to great things as she is able to maximize her unlimited potential.
- Kenni Henson is that one player who will always surprise you. She's going to have some great events this spring as she continues to feel more comfortable competing each week.
- Victoria Pavlik has battled some injuries throughout the year, but I know once she returns to the course, she'll be motivated to excel and finish out her season on a high note.
- Anytime you have returners that can continue to make a positive impact on the team you have a certain expectation. That expectation is to continue making improvements and become the best teammate you can be. When all of that is taken care of, what is left to focus on is simply playing the sport that brought these ladies to the University.
- We do not have anyone new to our program, so the camaraderie this team shares is quite special. They want to compete at the highest level for themselves, but more so for their teammates. Once they can let go of the technical side and play freely, their experience will translate nicely.
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