Murray State University Athletics
Racer Rewind - MSU's 1st OVC Women's Golf Championship In 1997
4/20/2020 3:36:00 PM | Women's Golf
GoRacers.com begins an in-depth look at one of the most impressive sport performances in the history of Murray State and the Ohio Valley Conference. It's the Murray State women's golf team and head coach Velvet Milkman and their 12 OVC championships since the first in 1997.
Â
Check GoRacers.com for a chronological review of the Racers' 12 titles on Mondays and Fridays.
Â
So let's get started.
Â
The 1997 OVC women's golf tournament was played at Eagle Creek Resort Golf Course in Findlay, Illinois. It was only the fourth title event for women's golf
in the OVC after it was first played in 1994.
Â
The Racers won the event with a score of 961, which proved to be a 14-shot win over Eastern Kentucky at 975. Tennessee Tech (1,020) was third and Eastern Illinois (1,156) was fourth.
Â
"Even though we had not won a championship at this point in the program, I felt confident in our chances to be successful in 1997," said Coach Velvet Milkman who was named OVC Coach of the Year. "The addition of Jenny Daag that spring helped give us the depth we needed and it was our depth that pushed us to finishing third, fourth, fifth and sixth in our top four players.
Â
Murray State's Brandi Stevenson was the Racers' top finisher in third place on scores of 76-84-77=237, while Mikki McLeary carded rounds of 80-77-82= 239 for a spot in fourth place. Future Murray State hall of famers, Jessica Widman and Jenny Daag placed fifth and sixth at 242 and 243. Widman's score line was 81-83-78=242 and Daag's was 85-80-78=243. Connie Steely placed 12th on scores of 86-88-87=261.
Â
"Juniors Mikki and Brandi played well and were All-OVC," said Velvet Milkman who was OVC Coach of the Year. "I also remember being very proud of freshman Jessica and Jenny, especially in the final round. They were fearless on that last day and looking back now, those two had a coming out party that week which began their MSU Hall of Fame careers. We were excited to send senior Connie Steely out with a championship, so it was a great feeling to see them so happy for each other and the sense of pride and accomplishment that winning a championship….Murray State's first in OVC women's golf. It was a very special day."
Â
They Racers have won 12 OVC championships and finished runner-up five times in 26 tries. MSU's OVC championships have come in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2019. The Racers have only finished out of the top three only three times.
Â
Ohio Valley Women's Golf Championship
Eagle Creek GC – Findlay, Ill.
April 20, 1997
(54 holes)
---
Team
Murray State 961
Eastern Kentucky 975
Tennessee Tech 1020
Eastern Illinois 1156
Â
(1) Murray State 322 324 315 961
3 Brandi Stevenson 76 84 77 237
4 Mikki McLeary 80 77 82 239
5 Jessica Widman 81 83 78 242
6 Jenny Daag 85 80 78 243
12 Connie Steely 86 88 87 261
Â
Â
Check GoRacers.com for a chronological review of the Racers' 12 titles on Mondays and Fridays.
Â
So let's get started.
Â
The 1997 OVC women's golf tournament was played at Eagle Creek Resort Golf Course in Findlay, Illinois. It was only the fourth title event for women's golf
in the OVC after it was first played in 1994.Â
The Racers won the event with a score of 961, which proved to be a 14-shot win over Eastern Kentucky at 975. Tennessee Tech (1,020) was third and Eastern Illinois (1,156) was fourth.
Â
"Even though we had not won a championship at this point in the program, I felt confident in our chances to be successful in 1997," said Coach Velvet Milkman who was named OVC Coach of the Year. "The addition of Jenny Daag that spring helped give us the depth we needed and it was our depth that pushed us to finishing third, fourth, fifth and sixth in our top four players.
Â
Murray State's Brandi Stevenson was the Racers' top finisher in third place on scores of 76-84-77=237, while Mikki McLeary carded rounds of 80-77-82= 239 for a spot in fourth place. Future Murray State hall of famers, Jessica Widman and Jenny Daag placed fifth and sixth at 242 and 243. Widman's score line was 81-83-78=242 and Daag's was 85-80-78=243. Connie Steely placed 12th on scores of 86-88-87=261.
Â
"Juniors Mikki and Brandi played well and were All-OVC," said Velvet Milkman who was OVC Coach of the Year. "I also remember being very proud of freshman Jessica and Jenny, especially in the final round. They were fearless on that last day and looking back now, those two had a coming out party that week which began their MSU Hall of Fame careers. We were excited to send senior Connie Steely out with a championship, so it was a great feeling to see them so happy for each other and the sense of pride and accomplishment that winning a championship….Murray State's first in OVC women's golf. It was a very special day."
Â
They Racers have won 12 OVC championships and finished runner-up five times in 26 tries. MSU's OVC championships have come in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2019. The Racers have only finished out of the top three only three times.
Â
Ohio Valley Women's Golf Championship
Eagle Creek GC – Findlay, Ill.
April 20, 1997
(54 holes)
---
Team
Murray State 961
Eastern Kentucky 975
Tennessee Tech 1020
Eastern Illinois 1156
Â
(1) Murray State 322 324 315 961
3 Brandi Stevenson 76 84 77 237
4 Mikki McLeary 80 77 82 239
5 Jessica Widman 81 83 78 242
6 Jenny Daag 85 80 78 243
12 Connie Steely 86 88 87 261
Â
Indiana State VS Murray State | MVC Baseball Tournament | Game Highlights
Friday, May 22
Evansville VS Murray State | Women's Basketball Game Highlights
Saturday, February 28
Head Coach Rechelle Turner | Racer Basketball | 2/26/26 Post Game Press Conference
Friday, February 27
Thomas & Pena | Racer Basketball | 2/26/26 Post Game Press Conference
Friday, February 27
