Troy University Athletics
Troy Hosts Troy Women's Invitational
10/25/2008 5:00:00 AM | Golf
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Troy golf coach Matt Terry is excited about his team's chances this weekend in their fourth tournament of the season.
The reason for that excitement and enthusiasm is because the Trojans will host the Troy University Women's Invitational at the Arrowhead Country Club beginning with the practice rounds for each team on Sunday. The tournament runs Monday and Tuesday at Arrowhead, with the final round beginning at 8:30 Tuesday morning.
"I know I am excited about playing here," Terry said from his team's practice session at Arrowhead Saturday afternoon. "The girls are really excited about being here. The course is in great shape, and I just want to thank Arrowhead for allowing us to use the facilities for the third time."
Terry believes that this week will be a good week for the Trojans, not only because of the familiarity of the course; but because the Trojans will be celebrating a homecoming of sorts for one player from nearby Prattville. Freshman Haley Lawrence will tee the ball up around 9:20 Monday morning on a course just 15 minutes from her hometown.
"To be able to play so close to home is a bonus for Haley," Terry said. "She has been playing well all season, and I think this will just help her play over the course of the two rounds. I know that is one of the reasons the girls are so excited is because of playing so close to her home."
Lawrence is averaging a score of 80.1 each round this season, for a score of 8-over par. Her best score of the season so far is a 9-over par at the USF-Waterlefe Invitational, a tournament in which she finished tied for 33rd overall.
However, she is not the top freshman on the team, as that honor right now belongs to Nikki Crowley of nearby Phenix City. Crowley will be playing at the number one position for the Trojans after averaging a score of 78.3 per round, which is good for an 8-over par. Her best finish of the season was a 17th place finish last week at the LDR Investments Collegiate in Mississippi. She has also recorded an even par-72 this season at the USF-Waterlefe Invitational.
"Nikki is very talented," Terry said. "She will play at our number one position for us this week, and we will see what she can do on this course."
Speaking of the course, Terry and the Arrowhead staff have it set up around 6,000 yards for the 36-hole event. The tournament will be broken up with half of the field teeing off at the par-4 350 yard first hole, while the other half of the field will tee off at number 10, a 338-yard par 4.
The tournament will feature Alabama State, Belmont, Eastern Kentucky, Houston Baptist, Jackson State, Jacksonville University, Jacksonville State, Lipscomb, Nicholls State, Tennessee State, Troy, ULM, South Alabama and West Georgia.
The teams will have practice rounds beginning Sunday, with a closest to the pin contest on hole seven. The tournament begins Monday morning at 8:30, with the range opening at 7:30 for practice.
For more information, visit TroyTrojans.com.
