March 5, 2015
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s golf team will face arguably its toughest tournament field to date this weekend at the fourth annual Darius Rucker Intercollegiate at the Long Cove Club in Hilton Head, S.C.
Tournament play will begin Friday against a field that features 11 of the last 14 national championships and 12 of the top 20 teams in the nation, three of which are in the top five. Overall, there are 17 teams competing: No. 2 South Carolina, No. 3 Southern California, No. 4 Arkansas, No. 6 Duke, No. 8 LSU, No. 9 Mississippi State, No. 10 Virginia, No. 12 Wake Forest, No. 16 Tennessee, No. 17 Vanderbilt, No. 19 Arizona State, No. 20 Furman, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky and North Carolina.
This will be the first tournament for the Cats since their 11th-place finish at the UCF Challenge a month ago and is the second to be played of the spring season. The Wildcats only have two remaining tournaments after the conclusion of this weekend before heading into the postseason. UK will use the lineup of Haley Mills, Isabelle Johansson, Ale Walker, Sarah Harris and Grace Rose.
“It’s good to be back in Hilton Head and Long Cove Golf Club,” head coach Golda Johansson Borst said. “This is such a beautiful yet challenging golf course and we are looking forward to competing tomorrow. We have had a good couple of weeks to work on our games since our last event and I know our team is ready to get after it tomorrow.”
It’s the second consecutive year UK has participated in the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate. Sophomore Haley Mills led the way for the Cats in last year’s tournament, finishing in a tie for 12th place with a score of six-over par. Overall, three Wildcats finished in the top 50 and the team finished in 15th place.
The tournament will consist of three 18-hole rounds. Freshman Grace Rose will tee off the tournament for UK on Friday at 8:30 a.m. on the 10th hole. The final round will be Sunday.
The Long Cove Club will play at 6,142 total yards (3,153 on the front nine, 2,989 on the back) and par 71. Course conditions have been tough the previous three years, as no team has ever finished under par at this event.
Fans can follow along at GolfStat.com.
Following the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate, UK will compete in the LSU Tiger Golf Classic in Baton Rouge, La., from March 27-29.
For the latest on the Kentucky women’s golf team, follow @UKWomensGolf on Twitter and on the web at UKathletics.com.
Long Cove Club
Hilton Head, S.C.
March 6-8
Par: 71 (36-35)
Yardage: 6,142 (3,153 – 2,989)
