Oct. 12, 2007
KENNESAW, Ga. - The Kennesaw State women's golf team hit the road again late Thursday evening, traveling to Augusta, Ga., for their third tournament of the season Saturday and Sunday at Augusta State's America's Choice Mortgage Lady Jaguar Invitational at the 6,123-yard, par-72 Forest Hills Golf Club.
The Owls, who have finished in the top half of the field in their first two tournaments of the fall, will have to overcome two top 50 teams and some familiar faces in order to move their streak to three at ASU's third annual tournament.
No. 31 Georgia State and the No. 37 host Lady Jaguars are the top ranked teams and are expected to be the Owls stiffest competition in the nine-team field. The Panthers are the reigning champions of the event and have finished in the top five in all three of their appearances this season. ASU was last year's runner-up and posted a third place finish in their lone tournament of the 2007-08 season.
"We have never had a win against Augusta State or Georgia State," said Kennesaw State head coach Rhyll Brinsmead. "We want to create a little in-state rivalry by going out and proving that we can compete with two of the top teams in our state."
Kennesaw State will face Elon for the third time this season in Augusta. The No. 85 Phoenix finished ahead of the Owls in both of their first two tournaments, placing third at the Draper Intercollegiate and second at the Great Smokies Invitational.
The Black and Gold will also square off with Wofford and Atlantic Sun Conference rival Mercer for the second consecutive tournament. Wofford and KSU tied for eleventh place at the Great Smokies Invitational where the Bears finished 19th, giving the Kennesaw State early season bragging rights in the conference.
Jacksonville State, Troy and Southern Mississippi will comprise the remainder of the field at the 36-hole event.
Looking to find strength in the team chemistry that has emerged, the Owls will travel with the same team that carried them through their first two events. Laura Lindsey and Lindsay Hagerman, who tied each other for 23rd to lead KSU at the Great Smokies Invitational, will be looked upon to continue their strong play.
"Laura and Lindsey have been playing really well in qualifying," said Brinsmead on her two top qualifiers. "I will be looking for them to lead us this weekend in Augusta."
Abby Fitzgerald, Chelsea Bonk and freshman Jessica Tarbet will fill out the rest of KSU's line-up. Fitzgerald led the Owls with a ninth place finish in their season-opener while Bonk paces Kennesaw State with a 76.3 scoring average. Tarbet will be playing in her third collegiate tournament.
"Chelsea has been very consistent for us this season and I believe she will continue to improve," added Brinsmead on the sophomore from Acworth, Ga. "Jessica and Abby have worked very hard these past two weeks and I expect to see a drastic turn-around from both of them this week."
The Panthers earned last year's team title with a two-round 606 (+30), while the individual champion, Amanda Smith (ASU), carded a 146 (+2).
The tournament, which is presented by Administaff and the Georgia Pain Specialists, will get started Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. with golfers beginning on both the first and tenth tees. The final round will begin with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday morning.
