Lady'Back golf opens season at Kentucky

FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas women’s golf team opens the 2007-08 season at the Wildcat Fall Invitational in Lexington, Ky., this weekend.

First-year head coach Shauna Estes gets her career debut as Arkansas returns a veteran squad paced by 2007 NCAA Champion senior Stacy Lewis.

"We’re excited about the start of the season," said Estes. "I think we have a really strong lineup to open the season with. We had a lot of youth last season and those athletes bring back some valuable experience this year."

Lewis returns as the team’s leader on and off the course. A three-time first-team all-Southeastern Conference and all-America selection, Lewis’ trophy case is filled with both collegiate and amateur honors.

Also traveling this week for Arkansas is junior Lucy Nunn, sophomores Kristin Ingram and Alex Schulte and freshman Kelli Shean. Sophomore Tania van As makes the trip as an individual.

Nunn finished the year as Arkansas’ number two last season followed by Schulte who was also the Lady’Backs’ top finisher at the 2007 SEC Championship.

Ingram joined the Lady’Backs at the semester break and got better with each event qualifying for six of seven contests in the spring. Van As saw action as a spot player last year but off-season improvements will likely make her a contender for a traveling spot this year.

Newcomer Shean made the lineup for her first collegiate event as well.

As for the field, Arkansas gets out of the gates with a good opening test. The 14-team field is a mix of Central and Eastern region teams including several SEC squads.

"Kentucky is a good place to start," said Estes. "Our schedule is really strong and I think each event this fall will prepare us for the post-season push in the spring."

Arkansas’ fall schedule continues at the Mercedes Benz Collegiate Classic, the Stanford Intercollegiate and the UA Ann Rhoads Intercollegiate all in the month of October.

For more information about Arkansas golf, log on to LADYBACKS.COM.