Feb. 21, 2009

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – The University of Kentucky women’s golf team will make its spring debut at the Edwin Watts/Kiawah Island Classic hosted by the College of Charleston Feb. 22-24 on the Cougar Point Golf Course.

“The team is anxious to get the season started again,” head coach Myra Blackwelder said. “They have all worked very hard over the off season, doing a variety of golf related training activities designed to improve their balance, stability and strength. This season, we are focused on improving our putting and are looking forward to getting to Kiawah Island to begin the process of addressing lag putting and overall short game tuning.”

Kentucky will face its largest field of competition playing against 42 ranked teams. Among them are Southeastern Conference rivals No.27 Florida, No. 34 Mississippi and No. 73 Mississippi State.

“We played our first practice round today on Oak Point,” Blackwelder said. “The golf course is very demanding, and the weather is windy and on the cool side. Oak Point is a beautiful layout with lots of water and sand from the tee to the green, so accuracy will be a premium.”

Senior Mallory Blackwelder – who leads the team in scoring with an average of 75.58 – will make her fifth appearance this season along with freshman Ashlee Rose and juniors Kristin Vincent and Erica Still. Rounding out the roster for Kentucky is junior Sara Hurwitch who will take the field in her third event of the season.

The three-day tournament will take place at both the par-72, 6,009-yard Cougar Point Course and the par-72, 5,907-yard Oak Point Course. Tee times on Sunday will begin at 10:30 a.m. ET with Kentucky teeing off at 12:30 p.m. ET. Live scoring is available on www.golfstat.com.