Arkansas Women's Golf Fact Sheet #1-Branch Law Firm

2009-10 EDITION OF RAZORBACK GOLF The 2009-10 edition of the Arkansas women’s golf team hits the links this weekend at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M. The Razorbacks have a four-date fall and participate in six regular season events in the spring.
MAKING THE TRIP Arkansas sends a talented but new-look group into battle this weekend. Seniors Kristin Ingram, Alex Schulte, Tiffany Phelps and Corinna Rees join junior Kelli Shean at this first event. Phelps participated in just two events as an individual last year and Rees redshirted the season so both are pretty new to the mix for this season.
ABOUT THE RAZORBACKS Kristin Ingram, Kelli Shean and Alex Schulte played in every event last year. Graduated senior Lucy Nunn and sophomore Katy Nugent also took part in event event in 2008-09.
SHEAN SHINES AT LPGA EVENT Arkansas junior Kelli Shean capped off her first career LPGA event in storybook fashion with a final round two-under 69 Sunday to finish one-under par which tied her for 27th at the LPGA’s P&G Beauty NW Arkansas Championship at Pinnacle Country Club. Shean, the only amateur in the field this week and winner of Tuesday’s qualifying tournament, became the only amateur to qualify for an LPGA event this season and then make the cut. In addition, the Cape Town, South Africa native is one of only four players who made tournaments fields through the qualifying process to make the cut on the LPGA Tour this season. Because she played as an amateur, Shean was not eligible to receive the $14,015 in prize money that went to the players who finished 1 under par.
MORE ABOUT THE EVENT Arkansas has taken part in the Branch just one other time in 2004 so the event is new to all the current Razorbacks. Arkansas finished fifth in the 14-team field that year. Last year’s event was won by New Mexico with New Mexico’s Jodi Ewart winning the individual title. This is the 30th year for the event. This year’s event takes place at the UNM Championship Golf Course and will play to a par 73, 6,167-yard distance.
2009 FIELD New Mexico, Arkansas, UC Davis, UC Irvine, Colorado, Colorado State, Indiana, Northwestern, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pepperdine, San Diego State, San Francisco, Texas A&M, TCU, UNLV, UTEP and Wyoming. Schedule of EventsFriday, Sept. 18 — Practice rounds from 9-noonSaturday, Sept. 19 — 36 holes — shotgun start — 8 a.m.Sunday, Sept. 20 — 18 holes — shotgun start — 7:30 a.m.
NEW THIS YEAR The Razorbacks welcome four newcomers to this year’s team. Freshmen Rachel Carpenter, Emma Lavy, Meagan Roberts and Victoria Vela all played well in the team qualifier and all had chances to make the cut for the first event. Stay tuned and see how they do.
MISSING LUCY NUNN Lucy Nunn was the only senior departing from last year’s team. Nunn is currently on the Duramed FUTURES Tour and recently played in the P&G Beauty NW Arkansas Championship at Pinnacle Country Club last week.
QUICK TURN Arkansas doesn’t get any rest between events. The Razorbacks turn around to travel to the Marilyn Smith/Sunflower Invitational in Manhattan, Kan., Sept. 28-29. It is Arkansas’ first appearance at this event. Arkansas also gets to travel a sixth player for this event with Razorbacks getting to take an individual.
THE REST OF THE SCHEDULE Arkansas follows up the Marilyn with a return trip to the Mercedes Benz Collegiate Classic in Knoxville, Tenn. The Razorbacks are making the program’s eighth appearance at this event. Arkansas wraps up the fall at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown at Boulder Creek Golf Course.
ABOUT SHAUNA ESTES-TAYLOR Head coach Shauna Estes-Taylor begins her third year with the Razorbacks. After five successful seasons as the Razorback assistant, Estes-Taylor had helped Arkansas to six consecutive NCAA Regional appearances and four NCAA Championship appearances. Assistant coach Mike Adams is also back for his third season with the Razorbacks.

Download: 09WGF Fact Sheet 1 – Branch.pdf