Upstate Women's Golf Announces Five-Tournament Fall Slate
8/1/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Spartanburg, S.C. – USC Upstate head coach Todd Lawton has announced the fall schedule for the Spartan women's golf team, with the squad playing in five tournaments starting with the Terrier Intercollegiate in early September.
Upstate continued to make strides last season and returns a solid core of players to the team in 2012-13. The Spartans return seven of its eight players from a year ago, including its all seven of its top scorers who finished the year last season. In addition to having a solid returning nucleus, Lawton has added freshman Malika Allie (Cape Town, South Africa) and sophomore transfer Rachel Reiling (Littleton, Colo.) to the team as newcomers in 2012-13.
Upstate will begin the season at the Terrier Intercollegiate Sept. 10-11. The tournament is hosted by Wofford at the Country Club of Spartanburg. The Spartans will make their second straight appearance in the event.
Upstate will then take to the road to play in the Great Smokies Intercollegiate Sept. 17-18. Hosted by Western Carolina, the tournament is played at the Waynesville Inn and Club. The Spartans have made four appearances in the tournament and shot a school record 294 in the first round of the event last year.
Upstate will travel to Piscataway, N.J., Oct. 5-6 for the Rutgers Invitational at the Rutgers University Golf Course. Upstate will be making its fifth trip to the tournament. The Spartans will play its fourth tournament of the fall when they travel to Kiawah Island, S.C., to take part in the Wendy's Invitational. The tournament is hosted by Charleston Southern at the Coosaw Creek Country Club Oct. 15-16. This will be Upstate's first appearance in the Wendy's Invitational.
After playing four tournaments, Upstate will end the fall season in a familiar spot in DeLand, Fla., at the Holiday Inn Express Hatter Classic. The tournament is hosted by Stetson at the Victoria Hills Country Club. The Spartans have played in the tournament each year since moving to Division I in 2007.
"The addition of the Wendy's event at Kiawah adds a great venue to our fall schedule," said Lawton. "Having previous knowledge and playing experience at our other fall events should help us adjust for a variety of different types of courses and playing conditions in great locations."
Junior Amanda Hall (Tega Cay, S.C.) is the leading returner in stroke average. She averaged 80.2 on the season, playing in all 10 events for the Spartans, posting rounds of 76 or lower five different times. Fellow junior Taylor Barnes (Spartanburg, S.C.), formerly Pleier, and sophomore Brittany Lowe (Spartanburg, S.C.) also played in all 10 events for the Spartans. Barnes was second on the team in stroke average and turned in eight rounds under 80. Lowe had a solid freshman season and battled Barnes for the second position in stroke average. She also turned in eight rounds under 80, including four of her last six.
Also returning to the team for the 2012-13 season are senior Marissa Clontz (Greenville, S.C.), junior Madison Bryant (Chapin, S.C.) and sophomore Kristi Goodman (Easley, S.C.). Clontz played in four spring events and improved in each outing. Bryant suited up three times for the Spartans last season, while Goodman played in seven events.
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