Oct. 5, 2009

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Kansas senior Emily Powers shot a 76 and is tied for 11^th after the first round of the Johnie Imes Invitational on Monday.  The Jayhawks finished the first round in 12^th place after shooting a 319 total.  Second-round play was suspended due to darkness.

Powers  was just one stroke out of the top 10 behind Laura Nochta of Indiana University and Stacey Rodger of Missouri State, who are tied for ninth. Kristinia Merkle of Tulsa leads the tournament with a three-under par score of 69.

Kansas is one shot out of a top-10 spot. Tenth place is currently held by Bradley University and Kansas State with 318. Host-school Missouri is in ninth after day one with a 316. Setting the pace for the tournament is Tulsa, which carded a 301 as a team.

Jayhawks Meghan Gockel and Grace Thiry are tied for 45^th, each notching an 80 in the first round. Rounding out the Kansas lineup are Jennifer Clark and Meghna Bal. Clark is tied for 67^th with an 83 while Bal is tied for 84^th after carding an 86 on the first 18 holes.

Johnie Imes Invitational

Columbia, Mo.

Team Leaders (18 teams)

(Thru one round)

1. Tulsa                        301

2. Illinois State Univ.     305

3. Wisconsin                 309

4. Indiana                    310

4. Missouri State          310

12. Kansas                319

Individual Leaders

1. Kristina Merkle, Tulsa                69

2. Kelly Amundrud, Bradley           71

3. Molly Schemm, Wisconsin         72

3. Stacey Miller, Illinois St.            72

5. Heather Smith, Missouri State   73

Kansas Individuals

T11. Emily Powers            76

T45. Meghan Gockel         80

T45. Grace Thiry              80

T67. Jennifer Clark           83

T84. Meghna Bal              86