Women's Golf Releases 2009-10 Schedule
8/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Aug. 19, 2009
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Alabama women's golf team released its 2009-10 schedule on Wednesday that includes several familiar stops from past seasons as well as some new destinations.
The Crimson Tide opens the fall slate at the NGCA Hooter's Match Play Championship in Daytona Beach, Fla., on the LPGA International-Legends Course Sept. 6-8. Alabama earned a second place finish at the event last season.
"Last year's match play I think was a real springboard for us when we made it to the finals," head coach Mic Potter said. "Our players experienced some things in that tournament last year that they probably never experienced before competitively, so I think it's good to have that in our first tournament. It will be a good building block for us."
The Tide then returns to Franklin, Tenn., to play the Mason Rudolph Women's Championship for the second straight year. Next on the schedule is the Tar Heel Invitational in Chapel Hill, N.C., a new event for UA this season.
Alabama concludes its fall run with a trip to Wilmington, N.C. to compete in the Landfall Tradition, this season's NCAA Preview event. The tournament will be played on the Country Club of Landfall course, site of the 2010 NCAA Championships in the spring.
"The Preview will be another test for us," Potter said. "The top 12 teams in the nation from last year are invited to that event, so every time you go out there you have to play well. There is nowhere to hide in a field like that."
The Tide opens its spring slate at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic for the third time in four seasons. In its last trip to the event, UA won the team title in 2008. Alabama will also make its usual appearance at the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic in Athens, Ga.
New events in the spring include the Tigers/Wave Golf Classic, which will be co-hosted by LSU and Tulane and the PING ASU Invitational hosted by Arizona State. Postseason play begins with the SEC Championships, and for the first time since 1998 Alabama will host the event. The tournament is set to be played at the NorthRiver Yacht Club in Tuscaloosa April 16-18.
"We're excited about hosting our fellow SEC members and doing a good job and making it the best SEC Tournament ever and getting the community involved too," Potter said.
NCAA regional play begins on May 6 followed by the NCAA Championships starting on May 18. Alabama has reached the NCAA Championships in each of head coach Mic Potter's first four seasons and tied for 11th place last year.
Alabama returns four of five starters from last season's team that concluded the season ranked No. 7 in the Golfweek/Sagarin performance index.
