Alabama Travels to Tennessee in Search of First National Title
5/21/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
May 21, 2012
NCAA LIVE SCORING | Notes and Stats 
NCAA Championships
May 22-25, 2012
Vanderbilt Legends Course
Par 72, 6,377 yards
Franklin, Tenn.
Live Scoring: www.golfstat.com
Alabama Travels to Tennessee in Search of First National Title
The Alabama Crimson Tide ventures to the state of Tennessee for the 2012 NCAA Women's Golf Championship on May 22-25 at the Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin, Tenn., just outside of Nashville. The par- 72 course measures 6,377 yards for this year's championship and is hosted by Vanderbilt. Alabama finished tied for fourth at the NCAA East Regional to qualify for its seventh straight NCAA Championship. The Tide is in the afternoon flight in the opening round and will play in a threesome with Colorado and Tennessee during the first two rounds.
Crimson Tide Making Seventh Visit to NCAA Championship
The Alabama women's golf team is making its seventh straight appearance in the NCAA Championship under the direction of head coach Mic Potter and their eighth overall. Alabama also competed in seven AIAW Nationals from 1975-81. The Tide finished third at the 2010 NCAA Championship, five shots off Purdue's winning score and tied for eighth last season. The Crimson Tide is ranked second in the latest Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index and second in the NGCA Coaches' Poll. Four Tide golfers bring a wealth of NCAA Championship experience into the Vanderbilt Legends Club with senior Brooke Pancake making her fourth appearance, junior Jennifer Kirby teeing it up for the third time and sophomores Stephanie Meadow and Hannah Collier making their second trip to nationals. It is the second visit of the season to the Vanderbilt Legends Club, a site UA visits every year for the Mason Rudolph Championship. Alabama finished second at the 2011 Mason Rudolph Fall Preview with a 15-over-par total of 879. UA had two players finish in the top five with Jennifer Kirby finishing tied for the lead, but losing in a playoff, and Brooke Pancake, who was fifth.
Alabama Cleans Up in SEC Postseason Awards
Alabama followed up its third-place finish at the Southeastern Conference Championship with a bevy of postseason awards handed out by the league. Crimson Tide head coach Mic Potter was named the league's Co-Coach of the Year for the fourth time (third straight), while and Brooke Pancake was tabbed as the conference's Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the third consecutive year. The Tide also had three first-team All-SEC selections with senior Brooke Pancake, junior Jennifer Kirby and sophomore Stephanie Meadow.
Three Players in the Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index Top 10
Brooke Pancake, Stephanie Meadow and Jennifer Kirby all reside in the top 10 of the most recent Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index. The trio holds down the seventh, eighth and ninth positions, respectively, and rank third, fourth and fifth out of the SEC. Hannah Collier checks in at No. 55 nationally.
Crimson Tide under Potter
Alabama head coach Mic Potter is in his seventh season at the helm of the Crimson Tide program. He has led the Tide to 15 tournament titles, including a school-record five wins last season and three this year. In 2011-12, the Crimson Tide has won the SEC/PAC-12 Challenge, the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate and the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic. Under his direction, the Crimson Tide has produced 13 medalists after Jennifer Kirby captured the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic. Sophomore Stephanie Meadow owns the school record with five career medalist honors. Overall, Alabama has competed in 78 tournaments with Potter at the helm and finished in the top five on 49 occasions and top three 38 times. UA has finished in the top three in eight of 10 events this season.
Players Mentioned
