AUSTIN, TX --- The Prairie Stars opened up the spring season in Austin, Texas as the St. Edwards Invitational held at Onion Creek Club. Jocelyn Matsen led the way for the Prairie Stars, finishing in a tie for 27^th in the 85-player tournament. Illinois Springfield finished in 11^th place overall out of 15 teams with a final team score of 637.

UIS was consistent in their first tournament back, firing a 318 in the opening round and following that up with a 319, holding their 11^th place spot, unable to pass Texas A&M Commerce who finished one-stroke better.

Matsen, playing in the top spot for the Prairie Stars fired an opening round 76 and followed that with a 77, both of which were the two best scores on the weekend for the Prairie Stars. With her 153 ( 13) effort, Matsen moved up one spot after the first day. The senior finished T-10 in the field in par-three scoring ( 1) and T-10 in par-five scoring ( 1) while ranking T-9 in total birdies with four.

Maria Espinosa (81-79-160) finished T-44 while Brooke Hill and Sara Posada each finished T-61. Hill carded an opening round 80, followed by an 84 for a two-day total of 164 while Posada went 81-83.

Taryn Pittman rounded out the UIS lineup with a 166 total but shaved six strokes off her opening round 86 to finish in 68^th place.

Posada also finished the tournament playing the par-fives at just one-over par while Espinosa joined the ranks with three birdies on the week.

UIS finished in 11^th place overall and was one of two teams from the GLVC to compete in the tournament. The University of Indianapolis won the tournament with a total score of 586.

The Prairie Stars will compete again on March 18-19 at the Saginaw Valley State Spring Invitational in Georgetown, Kentucky at Kerney Hills.