LEXINGTON, Ky.?The 23rd-ranked University of Kentucky women?s golf team will host 14 teams at its annual Lady Wildcat Fall Invitational, Sept. 29-Oct. 1, at the University Club.
Fresh off an impressive start placing 14th in the Mason Rudolph Invitational two weeks ago in a field that featured seven of the nation?s top-10 teams, Kentucky will play in its only home event of the 2007-08 campaign.
The field for the three-day event features five teams ranked in the top-50 in the country and five SEC teams. Memphis, the reigning champions of the annual invitational played at the University Club?s Big Blue Course, is also among the field of contenders.
?The one thing that we wanted to work on for this tournament was to strengthen our field,? said Head Coach Myra Blackwelder. ?We?re really excited with the field we drew to Kentucky this weekend; in what should be a very exciting tournament.?
In the lineup for the Wildcats is junior Mallory Blackwelder, sophomore Erica Still, seniors Elizabeth Dotson and Beth Felts, and freshman Louise Ljungstedt. Playing as individuals are sophomore Kristin Vincent and freshman Paige Lausier.
Blackwelder is enjoying a tremendous start, having earned her fourth career top-10 finish in the Wildcats? opening tournament. Blackwelder placed ninth at the Mason Rudolph Invitational and carded an under-par score for the tournament. She leads the team with a 71.67 average, and is returning to play in an event she won as a freshman. In 2005, Blackwelder was the top individual finisher in what has been dubbed the Versailles, Ky., native?s home course.
Still shot a career-low round (71) in the first round of her season. She was second on the team in scoring in the Blue and White?s opening tournament.
Dotson is making her second start of the season, and finished tied for seventh at the Wildcat Fall Invitational as a freshman.
Felts will make her first appearance of the season in an event she has led the team in scoring in each of the past two seasons. In three career top-10 finishes, one of them came at the University Club as a sophomore (7th).
Ljungstedt opened her collegiate career with a season-best one-over par 73 at the Mason Rudolph. Vincent will make her second appearance of the young season, while Lausier will open her collegiate career this weekend.
Tee times begin on Sat. and Sun. at 9 a.m. In the tournament?s final round, the field will begin with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m.. Live stats for the tournament are available at www.ukathletics.com and www.golfstat.com. Complete coverage of this weekend?s play can be found at the www.ukatheltics.com.
