Sept. 17, 2009

GREENVILLE, S.C. - The Samford University women's golf team will kick off its 2009 fall season this weekend, Sept. 18-20, at the 38th Lady Paladin Invitational being held at the par 72, 6,199-yard Furman University Golf Course.

The 17-team event returns after a one-year absence due to renovations at the Furman University Golf Course, which took place in the summer and fall of 2008, to lengthen holes, install new greens and make overall improvements to the course.

Samford will be joined in the field by Campbell, East Carolina, East Tennessee State, Florida International, Furman, James Madison, Kennesaw State, Memphis, Mercer, UNC Greensboro, UNC Wilmington, 2008 Division II National Champion Nova Southeastern, Penn State, Rutgers, Stetson and Wofford.

The Lady Paladin Invitational began in 1972 with Furman claiming the inaugural title and Lady Paladin Beth Solomon taking individual medalist honors. Over the years, many of the most recognizable names in women's golf have won the tournament including Betsy King, Nancy Lopez, Sherri Turner, Donna Andrews and Dottie Pepper.

Samford's talented 2009-10 roster is comprised of three seniors, one sophomore and two highly-touted freshmen.

The Bulldogs will be led this season by seniors Heather Arnold, Sara Hunt and Katelyn Stanier, as well as returning sophomore Sarah Butts. Samford's true freshmen this year are Anna Heim, from Lafayette, La., and Kayla Turner, from Clarksville, Tenn.

The 54-hole Lady Paladin Invitational begins with opening-round play at 7:30 a.m. (CDT) on Friday. Second-round play tees off at 7:30 a.m., on Saturday with Sunday's final round scheduled for a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Samford will tee-off of No. 1 beginning at 9 a.m.

Admission to the tournament is free and fans are welcome. Live tournament scoring will also be available via www.golfstat.com.