Jayhawks open 2019-20 season at Minnesota Invitational

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas women’s golf team opens its 39th season at the Minnesota Invitational in Woodbury, Minnesota hosted at Prestwick Golf Course for the fourth-straight year. The two-day tournament takes place Sept. 9-10 at the par-72 course.

The Jayhawks return three experienced seniors from last year’s squad, including Annika Cedo, Xinyun Yu and Yi-Tsen Chou. Head coach Erin O’Neil enters her 16th season leading the Jayhawks and couldn’t be more excited for the start of another year.

"We are very excited to get the season started tomorrow, especially against a strong field. Competition is what it’s all about and is a great opportunity for us to see what we are doing well and what can be improved upon."

Erin O'Neil, Head Coach

That field consists of 14 opponents including a slew of familiar teams from last year’s invitational in Louisville, East Carolina, Virginia Tech, Minnesota, San Jose State, Missouri, Notre Dame, Kentucky, San Francisco and Big 12 rival Oklahoma. Rounding out the field are Georgia, Long Beach State, Miami (Fla.) and UTSA.

Kansas hopes to take advantage of the familiar course while utilizing a lineup consisting of Lauren Heinlein, Phisitkhwan “Pear” Pooratanaopa, Yi-Tsen Chou, Ying-Ting Hsieh, and Sera Tadokoro.

Yi-Tsen Chou Action Shot

“Most of the team has seen the course with the exception of Ying-Ting, so hopefully the familiarity gives them confidence,” O’Neil said. “It’s a good course for us to start on – very scorable and fair. We want them to focus on what’s in their control and play the course.”

The Minnesota Invitational is scheduled to begin with a tee time at 7:40 a.m. on Monday, September 9 and will be followed by a 9 a.m. shotgun start on Tuesday.

Weather has impacted the course over the weekend, but won’t slow the Jayhawks down.

“With the expected weather conditions, there will be additional challenges that will require us to be more patient, disciplined and resilient, especially when something doesn’t go our way. We have to embrace the challenge and use it to our advantage instead of being scared of it or frustrated.”

Prestwick Golf Club Minnesota

Fans can follow along throughout the tournament on the KU women’s golf social channels and via GolfStat.