Bulldogs finish year ranked inside top 25
Despite the 2019-20 campaign ending early due to continuing developments related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Mississippi State women's golf posted an impressive season with plenty to be proud about and boast going into the upcoming season.
The Bulldogs ended the year ranked inside the top 25 in the country by both Golfstat (21st) and Golfweek (22nd). State stood second in the Southeastern Conference in scoring with an average team score of 286.50.
As a team, the Bulldogs placed inside the top half of five of their six tournaments, capped by an incredible performance to start the spring where State clinched the title from the Westbrook Spring Invitational. MSU also earned two top three finishes against elite fields at the Schooner Fall Classic and the Magnolia Invitational to highlight a strong fall showing.
At the Westbrook Spring
Invitational, State posted a performance for the record books. In the second round, the Bulldogs recorded a team score of 270, 18-under-par, tying the sixth-best team Gilliam round in relation to par in NCAA Division I women's golf history and breaking the previous MSU record by five strokes. MSU'S 552 team score in relation to par through 36 holes shattered the previous school record of 562 during the 2014 Magnolia Invitational by 10 strokes.
After being five shots behind going into the back nine of the final round, Mississippi State battled back to win the event with an incredible team score of 832. The 32-underpar finish tied the 12th lowest team 54-hole score in relation to par in Division I history and set the Mississippi State record by 10 strokes.
At the Schooner Fall Classic, MSU entered the final day in sixth, but the Bulldogs triggered a late push on the back nine of the Belmar Golf Club, shooting 5-under, to earn them a third-place finish and giving the team plenty of momentum heading into the Magnolia Invitational two weeks later.
Due to an inclement weather forecast, Mississippi State women's golf capped off its home tournament by playing 36 holes at Old Waverly Golf Club. The Bulldogs earned their best finish of the fall as runner up among an Sec-heavy event behind four top-20 finishes.
MSU shot two then-teamlow rounds of 279 (-9) in the first round at the Branch Law Firm/dick Mcguire Invitational and third round at the Magnolia Invitational to fuel the fall season. Including veteran and freshman Bulldogs, the team displayed its skillset by competing at the highest level against top teams from around the country.
Leading Mississippi State, freshman Ashley Gilliam ended the year ranked 43rd in the nation behind four top-10 finishes for the year. Her stellar season earned her a sixth-place ranking in the most recent Arnold Palmer Cup standings, which is a prestigious tournament that matches the top six collegiate golfers from the U.S. against six of the top international golfers.
Competing in all 18 rounds, Gilliam broke the MSU freshman records for rounds of par or better (13) and rounds in the 60s (five). While the record books establish stroke average by a minimum of 20 rounds played to count, her 70.61 stroke average would have stood as the best mark in program history. She averaged more than three strokes better than the current freshman record.
Gilliam's first season was highlighted by her final performance, when she finished tied for second at the Westbrook Spring Invitational. She ended with a score of 203, which marked the second lowest score in MSU history, and shot 13-under-par, matching the program record for score in relation to par. The impressive performance earned Gilliam SEC Golfer of the Week recognition.
Clara Moyano averaged a 72.33 stroke average for the year. Also competing in all 18 rounds for the Bulldogs, she accumulated nine rounds of par or better. She led the Schooner Fall Classic field in first place after round one, shooting a career-best round of 66. She earned her career top finish, tying for 11th place. For the season, she notched four top-20 performances.
Junior Aubree Jones had another record season, securing three top-25 finishes. She contributed to the team's 10 lowest rounds, including shooting 69 (3-under-par) in the first round at the Branch Law Firm/dick Mcguire Invitational as well as the third round at the Mason Rudolph Invitational, where she placed tied for fifth.
Junior Blair Stockett competed in all six tournaments with a 73.61 stroke average and recording three top-15 finishes. She fired under-par in every round in the only event of the spring, tying 12th for the Westbrook Spring Invitational. Stockett also displayed her talent at the home event, where she tied for third and shot a career-best score of 66 (6-under-par) in the final round, the best round of the season by a Bulldog.
Freshman Abbey Daniel ended the season with her best performance of the year, ending with a score of 207, 9-under-par, to tie for sixth at the Westbrook Spring Invitational. The finish was tied for the fifth lowest score in relation to par in program history. She competed in all five events and recorded five rounds of par or better.
Sophomore Lauren Miller finished tied for 16th at the Magnolia Invitational, marking her second-best finish of her career. Competing in two events, senior Athena Yang also earned a top-20 finish at Magnolia Invitational after carding a final round score of 68 (4-under-par) to help State claim second in the event.