Sept. 14, 2008

DENTON, Texas -- Less than a week after the men's team opened its season on a high note at the prestigous Topy Cup in Japan, the Lamar women's golf team will finally get its season underway Monday and Tuesday at the North Texas Fall Classic.

The LU women were originally scheduled to participate in an event hosted by McNeese State at Koasati Pines in Kinder, La., but Hurricane Gustav forced the cancellation of that tourney.

Now, two weeks later and two hurricanes later, the Lady Cards will open the fall slate at Robson Ranch Golf Course in Denton.

Head coach Brian White is anxious to see what his team can do in some live competition. Lamar lost a pair of talented senior performers in Hillary Zeigler and Bonnie Howard, both of whom exhausted their eligibility last year.

Lamar's lineup will feature four returnees - seniors Therese Nilsson and Channing Norton, junior Linda Persson and sophomore Lina Nilsson-Balfe - and freshman Jannele Alexander.

It will also give former men's all-America Dusty Smith a chance to make his coaching debut as part of the White's staff. Smith was hired as an assistant coach this summer.

The tournament will consist of 36 holes on Monday and 18 holes on Tuesday.

LU finished tied for seventh in last year's event, while Persson posted a seventh-place showing with a 75-75--150 total. The Lady Cards played with just four competitors.