Closing out the fall schedule, the University of Kentucky women’s golf team travels to the Challenge at Onion Creek hosted by Texas State University at Onion Creek Country Club’s North Course (par 70, 5,938 yards) Nov. 2-3.
“The team is looking to rebound from a very difficult start to the season,” head coach Myra Blackwelder said. “Our team is very young, and we are beginning to settle in and get comfortable. The squad for the tournament will be led by senior Kristin Vincent who will be playing in the No. 1 spot. She has fully recovered from an ankle sprain that pushed her out of the lineup for the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship.”
Vincent last played at Kentucky’s Bettie Lou Evans Fall Invitational where she finished tied for 24th with a 151 (75-76). The only senior competing at the Challenge at Onion Creek, Vincent leads the Wildcats in scoring average with a 76.00.
Sophomore Ashlee Rose joins Vincent for her fourth tournament of the season. Rose was the top Kentucky finisher at the season-opening Mary Fossum Invitational. With a 225 (71-76-78), she finished tied for 16th.
Junior Louise Ljungstedt reenters the Kentucky lineup, replacing senior Sara Hurwitch who is set to compete in a Duramed FUTURES Tour event next week. Ljungstedt posted Kentucky’s low round of the season with a 68. Her four-under-par performance came in the second round of the Napa River Grill Cardinal Cup where she finished tied for ninth (77-68-78).
Freshmen Betsie Johnson and Ashleigh Albrecht round out the starting five. Johnson has been a consistent contributor to the team, as the only Wildcat to compete in all five fall events. Albrecht registered Kentucky’s highest finish of the season when she tied for eighth at the Bettie Lou Evans Fall Invitational with a 147 (77-70).
The Challenge at Onion Creek begins Nov. 2 with a 7:30 a.m. CST shotgun start. Teams are set to play 36 holes Monday. The event concludes Nov. 3 with 18 holes of competition and an 8:00 a.m. CST shotgun start.
Kentucky joins an impressive 21-team field at the tournament. Joining the Wildcats are Augusta St., Baylor, Boise St., Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa St., Kennesaw St., Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, San Francisco, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas St., Texas Tech, UALR, UTSA, Washington and Wisconsin.
Last time out, the Cats travelled to Knoxville, Tenn., for the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship. Kentucky finished 17th with a 937 (322-309-306). Posting a 229 (82-72-75), Albrecht was the top Kentucky individual.
After the Challenge at Onion Creek, the Wildcats do not resume play until the Qdoba Invitational Feb. 14-16 in Miami, Fla.
Live stats for the Challenge at Onion Creek are available at txstatebobcats.com and golfstat.com.
For complete coverage of the Kentucky women’s golf team, stay tuned to UKathletics.com.
