Feb. 2, 2018
Orlando, Fla.- The Penn State women's golf team heads back on the road to open their spring season at the UCF Challenge in Orlando, Fla., Sunday-Tuesday, Feb. 4-6.
The tournament, hosted by UCF, will take place at Eagle Creek Golf Club. The course is a par-72 and plays 7,217 yards. The 54-hole event will play an 18-18-18 format with a shotgun start at 8:45 a.m. each day.
The Nittany Lions' seven-girl lineup includes juniors, Jackie Rogowicz (Yardley, Pa.), Lauren Waller (Canonsburg, Pa.), Cara Basso (Downingtown, Pa.) and Kamerine Taylor (Dublin, Ohio). Sophomores Maddy Herr (New Hope, Pa.) and Megan McLean (Lebanon, N.J.) will also join the group. Freshman Olivia Zambruno (Mt. Pleasant, Pa.) rounds off the lineup with her first on-the-road appearance for the Nittany Lions.
Rogowicz finished the fall 2017 season strong, walking away with an individual first place win at the William & Mary Invitational (Sep. 10-11), as well as an individual second place win at the Blue Hen Invitational (Oct. 21-22). Basso led the team in eagles with two alone in the Nittany Lion Invitational (Sep. 23-24) where she secured a tie for individual second along with Herr.
The team looks to capitalize on their two first place finishes from the fall this weekend against the 16-team field. Joining Penn State on the green is host UCF, College of Charleston, Iowa State, Auburn, East Carolina, Memphis, Miami, Old Dominion, SMU, Mississippi State, Texas Tech, Tulane, Vanderbilt, UNC-Wilmington and Wisconsin.
"The players are excited to get started," said Head Coach Denise St. Pierre, "It's easy to say that it's the first one of the season. We started out well this fall, but we are just continuing. It's not a start."
Penn State will tee off for round one on Sunday, Feb. 4 at 8:45 a.m. from holes seven through nine with Texas Tech and Miami.
There is still time to join the team in their efforts to raise funds and awareness for women's heart health through their campaign, Birdies For The Heart. With 197 birdies in five tournaments the Nittany Lions raised a total of $6,995 this fall.
To make a donation fill out the PLEDGE FORM and email it to Denise St. Pierre at dxs10@psu.edu.