Lady'Back Linksters go West this week

FAYETTEVILLE — The schedule is heating up for the University of Arkansas women’s golf team as the Lady Razorbacks travel to St. George, Utah, for the BYU Dixie Classic Monday and Tuesday. Arkansas, coming off a Southeastern Conference Championship preview at the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic, added the BYU Dixie Classic in the late fall after a rainout opened a date. "We had an opening in our schedule and added this event," said Arkansas head coach Kelley Hester. "We had an open date and then a rain out in our first tournament of the year so we added this event. It should be good in helping us stay in a competitive frame of mind." The 13-team event features several teams the Lady’Backs are facing for the first time this season. Arkansas enters the competition as the highest-ranked team checking in at No. 17 in this week’s GolfWeek poll. Also scheduled to compete is No. 27 UNLV, a program that Hester started in Las Vegas, Nevada. The next ranked opponent is No. 41 and host BYU along with No. 52 Colorado State, No. 66 Colorado, No. 69 Idaho, No. 71 Boise State, No. 84 Oral Roberts, No. 97 North Texas, No. 142 Arkansas State, No. 143 Weber State, No. 148 Wyoming and No. 149 CS-Northridge. Making the trip for the Lady Razorbacks is redshirt freshman Stacy Lewis and juniors Amanda McCurdy and Courtney Mahon. They are joined by junior Lindsey Hinshaw and freshman Ashley Medders this week. "Stacy continues to perform well in tournaments," said Hester. "She exciting to watch and she is doing a great job leading the team. Amanda has had a pretty mediocre spring but played much better in her final round at Liz. She regained a bit of that fire in her eye and I think she’s ready for some low scores. Courtney also turned a corner at Liz. She played three consistent rounds and regained some of her form." The Lady Razorbacks are also facing the Entrada Golf Course in St. George for the first time. "We’re looking forward to playing in some wind to hopefully duplicate some of the windy conditions that we might face at the NCAA Central Regional competition in Lubbock, Texas." The Lady Razorbacks will rest Hot Springs, Ark., senior Gena Johnson who has been a steady number two or three for Arkansas this season. She is expected to return to the lineup for SECs. The Lady Razorbacks travel to the SEC Championship in Tunica, Miss., at Tunica National April 15-17, followed by an NCAA Regional trip May 5-7. For more information about Arkansas golf, log on to LADYBACKS.COM.