Alabama Women?s Golfers Prepare for Mercedes-Benz Collegiate
10/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ?? The University of Alabama women's golf team looks to build on its early momentum when the Crimson Tide visits Knoxville, Tenn. to compete in the annual Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship. The three-day event begins Friday, Oct. 12 at the Cherokee Country Club.
The Tide is coming off a victory at the Wildcat Invitational and has reached the highest team ranking in school history at No. 5. Alabama encounters their toughest test to date this weekend, as 11 of the 17 teams in the tournament are ranked in the Golfweek/Sagarin top 30, including four top-10 teams. Alabama holds the highest ranking of any team entering the event.
Five other SEC teams will join the Tide in the tournament including No. 6 Florida, No. 7 Tennessee, No. 9 Auburn, No. 19 Arkansas and No. 28 LSU.
Alabama competed in the Mercedes-Benz last year, finishing in 13th place. Tennessee took the title in 2006 with a score of 887, edging out Georgia in a playoff. Alabama graduate Jenny Suh won the individual competition after shooting a 214.
The Tide has gotten off to a fast start in its first two tournaments, finishing in a tie for third at the Cougar Classic before taking its first team title since 2005 at the Wildcat Invitational two weeks ago. Alabama dominated the Wildcat Invitational, finishing with a score of 877 and winning by eight strokes.
Individually, the Tide gave a stellar performance as well, taking each of the first three spots in the individual standings. Freshman Courtney Harter earned medalist honors in her first career event at UA shooting a 213 for 3-under-par. Another true freshman, Camilla Lennarth, was the runner-up after shooting a 214 while junior Kathleen Ekey fired a 216, good for third place.
Helena Blomberg also finished in the top 10 after posting a 224 to finish in 10th place. Sarah Sturm missed the top 10 by one stroke shooting 225 to tie for 11th.
The Tide has finished in the top five in each of its last five regular-season tournaments dating back to last year. Live scoring of the Mercedes Benz Collegiate can be found at www.golfstat.com. Results and recaps will also be available on www.rolltide.com.
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