Golf hosts Tyson/Embassy Suites Invitational this weekend

FAYETTEVILLE — The second-ranked University of Arkansas women’s golf team hosts the Tyson/Embassy Suites Invitational at Pinnacle Country Club Sunday-Tuesday in Rogers, Ark. The Lady Razorbacks are hosting their eighth consecutive home event, and the only home event of the season this week. The 16-team event begins with 8:30 a.m., tee times Sunday and Monday followed by a shotgun start for Tuesday’s final round. Arkansas’ lineup includes all four seniors and a sophomore but nearly every team member will be competing this week. "It’s kind of fitting that all four seniors are in the lineup," said Arkansas head coach Kelley Hester. "This event is always kind of a tribute to our seniors and they understand that this is it for them. It’s their last chance to play at home. All four of them have really stepped up for the team this year." El Dorado, Ark., native Amanda McCurdy may be the most recognized Lady’Back golfer on the roster and has a busy week ahead of her beginning with The Spirit International Amateur Championship. The three-day event stretches from Wednesday to Friday and McCurdy, one of two collegiate women selected to represent the United States, is due back on campus Saturday. She’ll turn around to lead the Lady Razorbacks into action Sunday morning. Seniors Courtney Mahon, Sarah Trew and Lindsey Hinshaw also qualified along with all-American sophomore Stacy Lewis. Freshman Lucy Nunn and sophomores Whitney Sylvan and Ashley Medders are competing as individuals. Arkansas enters the event as the highest-ranked team in the field in the most recent Golfstat.com poll checking in at No. 2 in the country. Also scheduled to compete is No. 38 Michigan, No. 40 Augusta State, No. 42 Notre Dame, No. 51 Nebraska, No. 52 Kentucky, No. 61 Kansas, No. 66 Illinois State, No. 79 Kansas State, No. 80 Iowa, No. 83 Wisconsin, No. 95 Oral Roberts, No. 104 Iowa State, No. 129 Wichita State, No. 139 Missouri State and No. 140 Southern Mississippi. "If we play the way we’re capable of, we should come out on top of this field," said Hester. "We have set some individual goals heading into the tournament and I’d love to see us break the 289 barrier as a team. We not only want to do what it takes to win the tournament, but I’d also like to see some career-best scores." The home event serves as a warm-up to a busy fall for the Lady’Backs. Arkansas travels to the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Classic Oct. 21-23, the Las Vegas Founders Collegiate Showdown Oct. 31-Nov. 1 and wraps up at the Hooters Match Play Championship Nov. 11-13 in an event that invites only the top teams from the previous year’s NCAA Championships. All three events pit Arkansas against some of the nation’s best teams, but it’s a challenge Hester feels the Lady’Backs are ready for. "Our tournament is a really good warm-up for the tournament in Knoxville (The Mercedes-Benz)," said Hester. "There is an awesome field at UNLV and of course the match play field will be tough. This fall will make us better and its starts this week." The Tyson/Embassy Suites Invitational is open to the public with no charge at Pinnacle Country Club. For more information about Arkansas golf, log on to LADYBACKS.COM.