Strong Schedule Features Invitation-Only Event in '16-'17

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas women’s golf head coach Shauna Estes-Taylor has put together another strong schedule for 2016-17 with a familiar feel to it.

Coming off the program’s tie for 12th-place at the NCAA Championship in 2016, Arkansas received its second consecutive invitation to the 12-team ANNIKA Intercollegiate presented by 3M in Orlando, Florida, to open the year. The 54-hole stroke play event takes place at Reunion Resort on the Watson Course. In addition to the tournament, players and coaches are treated to a gala reception hosted by Annika Sorenstam.

Arkansas has a busy October with trips to the Powerade Cougar Classic, the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational and the Alamo Invitational rounding out the four-event fall.

The Razorbacks have won two consecutive Powerade Cougar Classic titles and had runner-up finishes at both the Tar Heel and Alamo invitationals a year ago.

The Razorbacks return to Puerto Rico as the 2016 runner-up behind a medalist performance from freshman Maria Fassi, playing in her first collegiate tournament after graduating high school early and joining the team in January. It is Arkansas’ seventh appearance at the event.

March features trips to the Darius Rucker Invitational and the LSU Tiger Golf Classic followed by the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic in April. The Liz Murphey features one round of stroke play before teams move on to a match play format simulating the NCAA Championship.

The postseason begins at the SEC Championship on April 21-23, in Birmingham, Alabama, followed by the NCAA Regionals and NCAA Championship. The expanded regional sites include New Mexico, Greenville, N.C., Lubbock, Texas and Columbus, Ohio.

ABOUT @RAZORBACKWGOLF
• Arkansas returns four of the five traveling players from last year’s spring team
• The Razorbacks finished tied for 12th at the NCAA Championship
• Sophomore Alana Uriell finished tied for 20th at the NCAA Championship
• Freshman Maria Fassi was an All-SEC Second Team and SEC All-Freshman Team selection
• The 2016-17 schedule is almost exactly the same as the 2015-16 schedule for the Razorbacks
o The only difference between the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons are the four NCAA Regional sites and the NCAA Championship location
• Arkansas won the Powerade Cougar Classic the past two seasons
• Arkansas is making the program’s seventh appearance at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic.
o The team has seven top-5 finishes
o Two team titles, two runner-up finishes, a third, fourth and tie for fifth place finish
o Arkansas has had four individual winners at the event, most recently Maria Fassi in 2016
• This is Arkansas’ second appearance at the invitation-only ANNIKA. It is the program’s fifth appearance at what is considered an NCAA Championship preview (2006, 2008, 2013, 2015)