Arkansas Golf Fact Sheet #6

GREAT EXPECTATIONS: The University of Arkansas opened the 2005-06 golf season with high expectations and lived up to their billing with a solid fall campaign. February begins the spring season with six events heading up to the NCAA Championship hosted by Ohio State May 17-20.
NEWCOMER JOINS TEAM: Arkansas welcomed the addition of freshman Tanica van As to the roster at the semester. Van As just graduated from high school in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, and will vie for playing time right away.
FIRST TIME AT NORTHROP: Arkansas is making it’s first appearance at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge in Palos Verdes, Calif. Arkansas should face a top-notch field at the event.
ABOUT THE COURSE: The Palos Verdes Golf Club is semi-private and many of the starting times are reserved for members. The waiting list is long and the waiting period is several years. Only residents and property owners in Palos Verdes Estates can apply for membership. The clubhouse is open to the public for dining and special events.
ABOUT THE FIELD: Arkansas has faced several top-notch fields this year but this week’s Northrop Grumman field is equally tough. Second-ranked UCLA headlines the field of 15 teams followed by Pepperdine who is ranked fifth in both the Golfweek and Golfstat polls. Arkansas and Arizona State flip-flop at No. 8 and No. 9 depending on which poll you consult while Washington is No. 15 in one poll and No. 24 in the other. No team is ranked higher than 33rd regardless of which poll you use.Arkansas has had a lot of success against the teams in this field as well. Last fall, Arkansas, in one tournament or another, defeated UCLA, Arizona State, Wake Forest, Florida, Tulane (twice), Oklahoma State, Arizona, Ohio State (twice), Stanford and Southern California. Arkansas had losses to UCLA, Pepperdine and Arizona as well.
ARKANSAS’ NUMBERS GOOD EARLY: The Lady Razorbacks have posted some impressive numbers early in the season. Arkansas’ 876 at their home Tyson/Embassy Suites Invitational was a then-program best and the first time the team has played under par for the tournament. The Lady’Backs single round 286 on the final day was also a program best. Arkansas carded an 882 at Las Vegas, a mark that currently stands as the program’s lowest round.
THE STARTING FIVE: TBA
McCURDY, LEWIS RANK IN TOP 10: Senior Amanda McCurdy and sophomore Stacy Lewis rank tied for ninth in the nation for Golfstat.com Par 4 scoring with 4.08 average. Here’s the top 10 list:PAR 4 SCORING

TWO IN THE TOP 30: Arkansas has two players ranked in the top 30 in the Golfweek.com rankings. Senior Amanda McCurdy ranks 21st with a 71.62 scoring average while sophomore Stacy Lewis is No. 26 with a 72.03 average.
ABOUT THE POLL: Arkansas is currently ranked ninth in this week’s GolfWeek Top 50. The Lady’Backs were ranked as high as second early in the year which is the highest ranking in the Golfweek poll ever for the golf program. In addition, the golf team becomes the third-highest ranked women’s team at the University behind cross country and indoor track, both of whom have been No. 1.
YOU’VE COME A LONG WAY: Head coach Kelley Hester took over the Lady Razorback golf program in 2002-03. In the final poll prior to Hester taking over, the Lady Razorbacks were ranked 82nd in the Golfweek poll. Arkansas is eighth in that poll this week.
HESTER’S FIRST SENIOR CLASS: That’s right, head coach Kelley Hester has her first senior class at Arkansas. That class consists of Lindsey Hinshaw, Amanda McCurdy, Courtney Mahon and Sarah Trew.
SECOND IN THE DISTRICT: Women’s collegiate golf is divided into three districts; East, West and Central, with the Lady Razorbacks residing in the Central. Arkansas finished the fall ranked second and begins the spring in that same position.
CENTRAL REGION1. Purdue
2. Arkansas3. Texas A&M4. Ohio State5. Michigan State6. Kent State7. SMU8. Baylor9. Missouri10. Oklahoma State11. Notre Dame12. Northwestern13. TCU14. Nebraska15. Tulsa16. Toledo17. Illinois State18. Texas19. Michigan20. Kansas State21. Kansas22. Iowa23. Texas Tech24. Oklahoma25. Illinois26. Western Michigan27. Bradley28. Wisconsin29. Indiana30. Eastern Mich.31. Oral Roberts32. Texas El Paso33. Iowa State34. Minnesota35. Cincinnati36. Butler37. Arkansas-Little Rock38. TX A&M-Corpus Christi39. Southern Illinois40. North Texas41. Ohio42. Missouri State43. Xavier44. Arkansas State45. Texas State46. Texas-Pan American47. Wichita State48. Northern Iowa49. Lamar50. Ball State51. Oakland University52. Creighton53. Northern Illinois54. Sam Houston State55. Bowling Green56. Youngstown State57. Eastern Illinois58. Texas-San Antonio59. Loyola University60. Western Illinois61. Missouri-Kansas City62. Cleveland State63. IUPUI64. Detroit65. Saint Louis66. IPFW67. Evansville68. Dayton69. Tennessee State70. Chicago State