March 6, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
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The Penn State women's golf team will start the spring season next week at the James Madison Invitational, which will be held Monday and Tuesday, March 9 and 10, in Jacksonville, Fla.
"I think that one of the things we've been focusing really hard on this winter is going through our practice routines," said head coach Denise St. Pierre. "We've been very diligent with that and working hard in the weight room, trying to get the players stronger and ready for the spring."
The team is looking forward to welcoming back junior Katherine Murphy (Portsmouth, R.I.) into the line up. Murphy missed the fall season while recovering from surgery.
"She is really my most experienced player on my team, as far as traveling and competing on the road," said St. Pierre. "I think with her back on the road with us and that may help bring more experience to things."
The Nittany Lions starting lineup will feature Murphy, sophomore Giulia Carando (Torino, Italy), sophomore Brianna Malcolmson (Murwillumbah, Australia), freshman Emily Riddle (St. Mary's, Pa.), sophomore Victoria Arena (Lansdale, Pa.), and junior Lindsay Cullen (Allen, Texas).
"We are looking forward to the tournament," said St. Pierre. "East Carolina is a top 30 school that just joined the line up. There are 15 teams, most we have played already. We would definitely like to finish in the top 10."
"Big Ten's are definitely going to be our main goal," said Carando. "We want to try and beat some other teams which would bring us up in the national rankings."
The James Madison Invitational will be played at the Eagles Landing Country Club in Jacksonville, Fla. The course is a par-72 and 6,282 yards long. Play will consist of 36 holes on Monday, with a shotgun start, and 18 holes on Tuesday.