Sept. 12, 2002
The University of Kentucky’s women’s golf team will open its 2002-03 fall season when it plays host to the Lady Kat Invitational Sept. 13-15, 2002 at the University Club of Kentucky. The tournament was held for 20 straight years, but not since 1997. Kentucky earned first place honors in 10 of the tournaments including the last two in 1996 and 1997. This year’s tournament will be played on the Big Blue Course (6,150 yards) with a par 72.
Taking part in this year’s tournament are Southeastern Conference rivals Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Mississippi State, and Tennessee and intra-state rivals Louisville and Northern Kentucky. Rounding out the field are Illinois State, Maryland, Miami (FLA), Penn State, Richmond, South Florida, and California State-Northridge, where UK Coach Stephanie Martin coached from 1999-2001, her first head coaching job.
“With such a strong field, I feel like it will be very competitive” Coach Martin said. “Everyone will be on top of their game competing for first place.”
The Lady Kats enter the season returning two of their top players from last season in seniors Kelly Anders and Rachel Lester. Anders competed in all nine season tournaments in 2001-02 and tallied two top-10 finishes, while Lester competed in seven tournaments and led Kentucky with a 78.52 stroke average. Making their Lady Kat debut in the tournament are top newcomers Ali Kicklighter and Maggie Gabelman. Kicklighter, a Deland, Fla., native, ranked as high as No. 32 in the nation by Golfweek/Titleist and was named first-team All-Conference all four years of high school. Gabelman began her collegiate career at the University of Iowa with a stroke average of 81.5. A Lincoln, Neb., native, she served as team captain of her high school team all four years and earned Nebraska Golfer of the Year honors after winning the state championship her senior season.
“I expect our girls to play their best golf game and to be competitive,” Coach Martin said. “I think this is a good start for us. Our goal right now is first place or definitely the top three and I think that is a justifiable goal with the team we have.”
The Lady Kat Invitational will tee-off at 8:30 a.m. on Friday Sept. 13, with Kentucky Blue, Miami and Alabama at the first tee and Kentucky White, Cal State-Northridge, and South Florida from the 10th tee. Results can be followed on www.golfstat.com or from the UK athletics web site, www.ukathletics.com.
