MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's golf team opens its 2018-19 season as host of the USA Intercollegiate Saturday through Monday at the Robert Trent Jones Magnolia Grove – Crossings course. The tournament is an 18/18/18 format; play begins at 8 a.m. each day.

The Jaguars return six of the seven members of the 2017-18 team which finished third in the Sun Belt Conference standings. 

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Event (Host): 2018 USA Intercollegiate (South Alabama)
Dates: Sept. 15-17 (Saturday-Monday)
Format: 54 holes (18/18/18)
Start Time: 8 a.m.  
Course: Robert Trent Jones Magnolia Grove – Crossings course (par 72, 6,002 yds)
Live Scoring
 
THE FIELD (17)
Alabama-Birmingham, Alabama State, Arkansas State, California Baptist, Georgia State, Houston Baptist, Lamar, Little Rock, ULM, McNeese State, South Alabama, South Florida, Southern Miss, Stetson, Tulane, UT Arlington, Western Kentucky 
 
THE JAGUAR LINEUP
-Caroline Berge (So., Hundvag, Stavanger, Norway; 25 rds, 77.36 avg.; 2 T10, 4 T20; 4 rds =/- par in 2017-2018)
-Julie Hovland (So., Bergen, Norway; 28 rds, 76.46 avg.; 4 T10, 2 T20; 4 rds =/- par in 2017-18)
-Nele Mattner (Fr., Braunschweig, Germany; 4 rds, 77.00 avg.; 1 T20 in 2017-18)
-Siti Shaari (So., Subangjaya, Malaysia; 28 rds, 74.04 avg.; 6 T10, 2 T20; 12 rds =/- par in 2017-18)
-Lexi Worrell (Sr., Milton, Fla.; 22 rds, 77.05 avg.; 2 T10, 2 T20; 4 rds =/- par in 2017-18)
-MacKenzie Peyton** (Sr., New Castle, Ky.; 28 rds, 77.29 avg.; 1 T10, 1 T20; 2 rds =/- par in 2017-18)
 
**Competing as an individual

TEE SHOTS
-Siti Shaari was named Sun Belt Freshman of the Year after leading the team with a 74.04 average and finishing fourth in the individual standings during the 2017-18 season.
-Julie Hovland earned four top-10 and two top-20 finishes in 10 events last season with a 76.46 stroke average. 
-Caroline Berge shot a 226 (+13) to tie for 10th at last year's Sun Belt Conference Championship. 
-Nele Mattner made her Jaguar debut with a top-20 finish at the Reynolds Lake Oconee Individual Collegiate Championship in February. She had a one-round score of 74 (+2). 
-Lexi Worrell's best tournament total of the season came at Spring Hill's Badger Invitational. Competing as an individual, she took first place with a score of 219 (+3). 
-MacKenzie Peyton tied for sixth at the Bama Beach Bash with a three-round total of 219 (+3). She completed her junior season with a 77.29 stroke average.
-The Jaguars tied for third in the 2017 USA Intercollegiate with a 54-hole score of 877 (+13). It was, at the time, the best 54-hole score in program history. 
 
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Matt Luther
On the advantages of opening the season at home… "(We have) course familiarity. It's a tournament everybody has played before. We played well last year. It's a great place to start, where we're comfortable and know what we're doing."

On the competition level at this year's tournament… "It's a great field. There are a lot of Sun Belt Conference teams, so it's a good opportunity to see where we're at very early in the year."

On returning six of seven members of the 2017-18 team… "Things are much easier this year, especially the non-golf related things. Everybody knows the drill and has been through it once, so we can focus a lot more on on-course stuff versus the stuff that comes along with travel."

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the Chip In Club, the women's golf specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. All donations to the Chip In Club go directly to support the South Alabama women's golf program. For more information on how you can join visit: jaguarathleticfund.com/chipinclub.

—USA—