NCAA Championship Comes To Fayetteville

Schedule
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas women’s golf team will leave the Natural State 10 times in preparation for hosting the 2019 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships thanks to an exciting schedule this season.

Arkansas hosts the NCAA Championship for the first time in program history at Blessings Golf Course beginning May 17. They face a long road before the finals as well as the challenges of repeating a record-setting season in 2017-18.

“Obviously, our goal is to create a schedule that will test us but also lets us see different conditions and grasses so that our players are comfortable as we head to postseason,” head coach Shauna Taylor said. “Our schedule looks very similar to years past, but we will be returning to The Cougar Classic in Charleston, S.C. as well as adding The Landfall Traditions event in Wilmington, N.C. in the fall. I believe we have a very strong schedule that will help us prepare for the ultimate goal of winning a National Championship. I’m excited about the variety and feel we return a team up for the challenge.”

About The Schedule
Arkansas takes part in eight regular season events and the Southeastern Conference Championship. NCAA Regionals and the NCAA Championship follow during the postseason.

The fall opens in early September with trips to the Powerade Cougar Classic and the ANNIKA Intercollegiate presented by 3M. Arkansas is making its fourth appearance at the Cougar Classic and has won twice in Charleston, S.C.

The ANNIKA has become a program favorite with the Razorbacks winning the event last season. Senior Maria Fassi has two individual titles at the event and the Razorbacks have placed in the top-3 in every appearance. Fassi’s magical season included winning the ANNIKA Award, given to the top collegiate player, last year.

Arkansas makes its eighth consecutive and 11th overall appearance at the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational in the first of two events in October. The Razorbacks wrap up the fall at The Landfall Tradition, returning to the event for the first time since 2003.

The spring has a familiar look with trips to the Lady Puerto Rico Classic, the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate, the Evans-Derby Experience and the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic, all of which Arkansas played in last season. The Razorbacks captured wins at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic and the Evans-Derby Experience and played to runner-up finishes in the other two tournaments.

Arkansas enters the postseason as the reigning SEC and NCAA Central Regional Champions, winning both events for the first time in program history in 2018.

Hungry For More
It will be hard to match the success of last season but that is exactly with Taylor and the Razorbacks have in mind for 2018-19. Arkansas won seven events, including the SEC and NCAA Regional titles. They had three All-Americans in Fassi, Dylan Kim and Alana Uriell with Fassi winning six times and earning the player of the year award. The trio also played in the Walmart NWA Championship presented by P&G and were all selected to the Palmer Cup in July.

Whew!

Arkansas returns all but Uriell and Jordy LaBarbera who both graduated in May. They welcome the addition of freshmen Ximena Gonzalez and Grace St. Germain who were both members of their respective national teams. Fassi and Kim headline the team with fellow seniors Kaylee Benton and Cara Gorlei returning as regulars in last year’s lineups. Benton clinched the SEC Championship winning the final hole in a tension-filled finish.

Also back is Maria Hoyos who took part in three events along with Julia Dean and Brooke Matthews who both redshirted last season.