Monday, January 29, 2007

STRONG FIELD HIGHLIGHTS 2007 TUSCULUM/KIAWAH ISLAND WOMEN’S GOLF INTERCOLLEGIATE

The Pioneer women's golf team will host a talented 18-team field at the 2007 Tusculum/Kiawah Island Intercollegiate this weekend in South Carolina.
Tusculum is ranked No. 27 in the nation.

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. --- The Tusculum College women’s golf team will open the spring portion of its 2006-07 schedule this weekend when they host the fifth annual Tusculum/Kiawah Island Intercollegiate. The first round will begin this Saturday morning at 8 a.m. at Cougar Point Golf Club in Kiawah Island, S.C.

This year’s 18-team tournament field will be the largest and arguably the strongest in the history of the event. The field features eight teams ranked in the top 40 of the latest Golfstat NCAA Division II Standings, including four-time defending national champion Rollins College. The Tars will be making its first Tusculum/Kiawah Island Intercollegiate appearance and are ranked No. 2 in the nation.

Florida Southern College, the top ranked team in NCAA II, will also be making its first Intercollegiate appearance. The Mocs boast three national championships (2000, 2001, 2002) and captured tournament titles in its first two events last fall.

No. 4 Nova Southeastern University will be making its third straight trip to Kiawah and is the defending tournament champion. NSU ran away with last year’s title with an Intercollegiate record 616.

Other top 40 squads competing in this year's tournament include: No. 7 Pfeiffer University, No. 8 Newberry College, No. 15 USC Upstate, No. 35 Belmont Abbey College, along with tournament host and 27^th-ranked Tusculum.

Joining Tusculum and Newberry are fellow South Atlantic Conference members Lenoir-Rhyne College, Lincoln Memorial University and Wingate University. Lenoir-Rhyne won the inaugural Intercollegiate event in 2003. Also competing at this year’s tournament are Armstrong Atlantic State University, Berry College, Limestone College, Mount Olive College, Queens University of Charlotte, St. Andrews Presbyterian College and The Citadel.

The Pioneers finished in the top half of the field in three of its four fall tournaments, including a first place win at the Tusculum Fall Classic. TC senior Shannon Palenkas leads the Pioneers with a 77.63 scoring average, while capturing medalist honors at the Tusculum Classic. Senior Amanda Bowen is second on the squad with her 81.50 stroke average, while rookie Mary Ann Vizcarrondo is third at 82.25. Mandy Hartsock is fourth with 84.50, followed by Becca Friddle (85.17), Susanne Sisco (90.00) and Liz Ennen (93.50).

The second round of the tournament will be held Sunday beginning at 8 a.m. on the par 72, 5,800-yard layout.

Tusculum College, located in Greeneville, Tenn., is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA and is a NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic Conference which is comprised of nine colleges and universities in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.

- TC -