02/05/06– FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTH ALABAMA WOMEN'S GOLF SET TO BEGIN SPRING SEASON AT UCF TOURNAMENT ON MONDAY

CONTACT: Kevin Beasley

ORLANDO, Fla. - The University of South Alabama women's golf team will look to get the spring season off on a high note Monday when it opens play at the UCF Women's Golf Invitational hosted by Central Florida. The two-day, 36-hole tournament will get underway at 8 a.m. Monday morning at the par 72, 6,215 yard course at the Stoneybrook Golf Club. South Alabama is scheduled to tee-off at around 10:30 a.m.

The Jaguar women will compete against 12 other teams from around the country, including fellow Sun Belt member Florida International and future conference member Florida Atlantic.

"We've practiced really well so far this spring," said South Alabama women's golf head coach T.J. Jackson. "We hope now that we will be able to carry that over to tournament play. This is a good field and the tournament will be very challenging for us."

During the fall season, South Alabama finished no worse than fifth at any of its three tournaments and finished as high as second on two occasions. The Jags will have to replace one of its top golfers, true freshman Darah Newell, who finished in the top-10 at all three tournaments during the fall season. Newell suffered a knee injury back in December and will miss spring competition. Looking to step in for Newell will be another true freshman Shirley Harvey (Northern Ireland). The tournament will be the first collegiate tourney of Harvey's career.

South Alabama will next travel to Birmingham, Ala., to compete in the 2006 Birmingham Southern Shootout held at Bent Brook Golf Club on Feb. 20-21.

2006 UCF Women's Tournament Field:
Cincinnati
Daytona Beach CC
Florida Atlantic
Florida Gulf Coast
Florida International
Florida Southern
Jacksonville
Mercer
Rollins
South Alabama
Stetson
Texas Tech
UCF

Individuals:
Cincinnati (1)
Daytona Beach CC (1)
Florida International (1)
Jacksonville (1)
Rollins (3)
Texas Tech (2)
UCF (1)