Oct. 12, 2006

Women's Golf Weekly Release in PDF Format
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UMKC Kenneth Smith Classic
Fred Arbanas Golf Course at Longview Lake - Lee's Summit, Mo.
Oct. 16-17, 2006
Hosted by UMKC

This Week
The University of Northern Colorado women's golf team looks to defend its title at the 2006 UMKC Kenneth Smith Classic held Oct. 16-17 at the Fred Arbanas Golf Course in Lee's Summit, Mo.

Last year the Bears topped a field of 11 teams by claiming the team title over Eastern Illinois by four strokes. Jenny Henderson had rounds of 78 and 74 to claim the individual medalist honors, winning in a three-way playoff. Kelley Newton, who was the leader after round one, was 10th overall. It was the first team title for the Bears since the UNK Invitational in April 2005 and first against a full Division I field since the team began the reclassification process to Division I.

The year's field includes Creighton, Drake, Eastern Illinois, Lindenwood, UMKC, Missouri Western, Northern Iowa, Oral Roberts, Rockhurst, South Dakota State, Truman State and Western Illinois.

Last Time Out
Northern Colorado finished eighth overall at the Huskie Classic hosted by Northern Illinois University on Oct. 1-2. The Bears finished in a tie with Loyola at +75 overall, just two strokes behind Western Illinois. Southern Illinois, the leader after day one, held onto its lead to claim the team title, topping host NIU by a lone stroke.

Jenny Henderson finished 24th overall for Northern Colorado, with a two round total of 160 (+16). Heather Daviner was three strokes back in 29th place (+19), Kelley Newton was one stroke behind Daviner in 31st (+20) while Regina Rodriguez was 34th (+21). Shayna Godfrey rounded out the Bears score with a 46th place finish (+26).

Bears Officially Members of the Big Sky
The 2006-07 season marks the first in the Big Sky Conference for the University of Northern Colorado. The Bears are not eligible for the Big Sky or NCAA Championships this season but are eligible beginning with the 2007-08 season.

White in First Season as Head Coach
Brandon White enters his first season as Bears head coach in 2006-07. White, only the second coach in program history, is a Greeley native and was a standout at Greeley Central High School and also at Pepperdine University. White was the 2000 West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year, completed PGA Qualifying School and was a member of the Grey Goose/Gateway Tour from summer 2003 through winter 2005.

National Rankings
In the latest set of Golfweek national rankings, Northern Colorado is ranked 166th out of 234 Division I teams (Oct. 12). The Bears were ranked 147th at the end of the 2006-07 season.

Next Up
The Bears will wrap-up the Fall season on Oct. 30-31 at the Troy University Intercollegiate in Montgomery, Ala.