Story by Sarah Combs, Assistant Sports Editor
Jane Watts, freshman from Versailes, Kentucky, at the OVC Tournament.
The Murray State women’s golf team wrapped up their season in the OVC setting. The Racers finished sixth overall and delivered the seventh OVC champion to come from the program.
The team faces losing two seniors who have been in the Racer program all four years. Head Coach Velvet Milkman said to expect several returning players to step up and deliver competitive results.
KEY LOSSES
The Racers will lose two seniors who both played all four years for the program and won an OVC Championship; both played in almost every tournament and contributed academically in the classroom.
Abbi Stamper, senior from Frankfort, Kentucky, played her final round at the OVC Tournament. Stamper finished 24th for her final season. The tournament wasn’t a new environment for Stamper, who appeared all four years and earned a fifth place finish in 2014. Stamper averaged 79.5 in 31 rounds this season.
Sophie Hillier, senior from Sandy, England, averaged 79.4 in 28 rounds this season for the Racers. Hillier didn’t appear in the OVC Tournament but tied for fourth at the opening Murray State Invitational, 24th at the Jan Weaver Invitational, 27th at the USA Women’s Invitational and 13th at the UC Bearcats Fall Classic.
“Any time you lose seniors they are always a big loss after being in your program for four years,” Milkman said. “We are obviously going to miss them, but I am excited for the future as well.”
KEY RETURNERS
The Racers return key players that will play a role in the success of their next season. Milkman is expecting the team to pick up the leadership responsibilities from the graduating seniors and return with winning results.
Moa Folke, sophomore from Tranas, Sweden, and 2016 OVC champion returns for the Racers. Averaging 75.2 in 31 rounds this season, Folke earned a spot on the All-OVC women’s golf team. Earlier in the year, Folke clinched her first tournament win at the Jan Weaver International in Murray.
Sydney Trimble, junior from Paducah, Kentucky, averaged 78.5 in 31 rounds this season. Trimble tied for 12th in the OVC tournament, 19th in the Jan Weaver Invitational and tied for second at the Murray State Invitational for her best performance of the year.
Anna Moore, sophomore from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, averaged 81.1 in 28 rounds this season. Moore returns next year for the Racers.
“I’m looking for Moa, Sydney and Anna to really lead this team next year,” Milkman said. “I think those are the ones coming back that will take that leadership role to replace those seniors and the others will come along as well.”