Wyoming is part of competitive 19-team field in Hawaii

LIHU'E, Hawaii – The Wyoming women's golf team will conclude the fall schedule at the Rainbow Wahine Invitational next Monday through Wednesday at the Ocean Course at Hokuala.

The 29th edition of the 54-hole tournament has moved to the island of Kaua'i after spending the past 25 years on O'ahu.

The Cowgirl lineup will consist of senior Meghan Vogt, junior Elle Higgins, sophomores Kira Reisner and Emerson Purcell and true freshman Kiley Reisner.

"It is always a privilege to travel to Hawaii and compete," UW head coach Josey Stender said. "It is a very different style of golf there. We will put a strong emphasis on learning the grainy Bermuda grass, elevation changes, humidity and trade winds during the practice round."

The Cowgirls are coming off an 11th-place finish at the Ron Moore Collegiate at the University of Denver Golf Club at Highlands Ranch.

Kiley Reisner, the MW freshman of the month for September, shot an even par 72 in the final round and moved up 18 spots on the leaderboard to finish tied for 30th at +5 for the tournament.

Vogt, who tied Higgins for the program record for lowest round with a 67 in the opening round, finished +1 for the tournament and tied for 17th to lead UW.

Higgins, who set the new program record for lowest round with a 67 at the Utah Valley Wolverine Invitational to open the season, finished tied for 41st at +7.

The 19-team Rainbow Wahine Invitational field includes programs from the Big 12 (Baylor, BYU, Kansas), the SEC (Missouri), Japan (Osaka Gakuin) and UW's Mountain West rivals Boise State, Grand Canyon, Nevada and San Diego State.

"We will face another very competitive field which we are confident and comfortable with," Stender said.

The Cowgirls will begin the spring schedule with the Mountain Classic Matchplay event Feb. 9-11 in Palm Desert, Calif.