Sept. 14, 2008

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - The Samford University women's golf team will kick off its 2008 fall season Monday as the Bulldogs begin competition in the 10th-annual Great Smokies Women's Intercollegiate golf tournament at the par 72, 5,922-yard Waynesville Country Club.

A total of 22 teams, including three making their first-ever appearance, and 115 women's collegiate golfers will square off over two-days, vying for both team and individual medalist honors.

The 36-hole event will take place Monday and Tuesday, with shotgun starts at 9:30 a.m., each day. Scoring for the tournament will include the top four individual scores out of the five players from the respective teams, with both a team and individual champion crowned Tuesday.

The Waynesville Country Club (WCC) was established in 1926, nestled on the hills and valleys of Western North Carolina. The 27-hole course sits on a former dairy farm and features rolling fairways ending in bent grass greens. Several holes at the facility were laid out by renowned golf course designer, Donald Ross, who also designed Pinehurst #2 which hosted the 2005 U.S. Open.

Teams will once again play the Carolina and Blue Ridge courses at the WCC, but will face a few differences in yardages on several holes. This year, the Carolina course will play 2,981 yards with Blue Ridge, which features three par-3 and three par-5 holes, measuring out to 2,941 yards, 12 yards longer than a year ago.

Samford's talented 2008-09 roster is comprised of two seniors, three juniors and one freshman.

The Bulldogs will be led this season by seniors Kellie O'Connell and Maria Troche, as well as juniors Heather Arnold, Sara Hunt and Katelyn Stanier. Samford's lone underclassmen on the roster this year is true freshman Sarah Butts. Butts is a native of Carrollton, Ga.

Practice rounds for the tournament were held Sunday at the Waynesville Country Club, with opening ceremonies commencing at 9 a.m., Monday. Both rounds Monday and Tuesday will be shotgun starts at 9:30 a.m. Admission is free and the tournament is open to the public.