Oklahoma Golf Hits the Desert

March 28, 2008

2008 MountainView Collegiate
Date	March 29-30, 2008
Location	Tucson, Ariz.
Start Time	10 a.m. CDT
Course	MountainView Golf Course
Par/Yards	72/6,178
Host	University of Colorado
Live Stats	None
Tournament Info	Tournament Notes (PDF)

NORMAN, Okla. -- The No. 40 University of Oklahoma women's golf team looks to get rolling into its home tournament and the postseason as the Sooners head to Tucson, Ariz., for the 18-team MountainView Collegiate March 29-30.

"We are excited about this trip," OU head coach Carol Ludvigson said. "We're looking forward to playing in Tucson since last year we didn't have a good showing. The team is ready and hungry. We are using this tournament as momentum for the Susie Maxwell Berning Classic and the Big 12 Championship."

The Sooners are coming off a ninth-place finish a week ago at the competition-rich Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational, their best finish of the spring season. With the Big 12 Championship just four weeks away and nine conference teams, including OU, participating in Tucson this week, Coach Ludvigson and her squad have their bar set high.

"We are hoping that we see a team win and an individual win as well," Ludvigson said. "The other thing is trying to get our fifth spot sewn up. At this point it is still up in the air, and we are hoping this tournament will give us a good idea on that spot in our lineup."

Holding the No. 1 spot in the OU lineup this weekend is junior Kendall Dye. She led the Sooners with a tie for 24th place at last week's Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational. She is followed by senior Heather Wright. Wright fired an 80 in the final round of the Betsy Rawls Invitational, the best score of the day for OU.

Junior Staci Smoot earned the third spot in the lineup this weekend with her performance at the Betsy Rawls Invitational. She tied with Wright for the second-best Sooner finish in Austin with a tie for 47th place.

Senior Kelly Jacques and freshman Ellen Mueller complete the Sooner squad at the MountainView Collegiate. Sophomore Ryanne Elmer is competing as an individual.

Host school Colorado, Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska and Texas Tech join the Sooners on the list of Big 12 members in the field this week. Filling out the tournament participants are Arizona, Boise State, Colorado State, East Carolina, Indiana, Louisville, Michigan, Northwestern and San Jose State.

"We are ready to win again," Coach Ludvigson said. "We will come under very good competition from all teams this week, especially Louisville and San Jose State."

Play begins Saturday with a 10 a.m. CDT shotgun start for the first 36 holes. Sunday's final 18 holes will begin at 10 a.m. CDT, as well. Stay tuned to SoonerSports.com for the latest updates on the action at the 6,178-yard, par-72 MountainView Golf Course.

THE SOONER LINEUP
Kendall Dye: tied for 24th place at the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational
Heather Wright: has seven career top-20 finishes
Staci Smoot: making her second consecutive start for the Sooners
Kelly Jacques: third place on OU's career stroke average list (77.06)
Ellen Mueller: three top-20 finishes this season as a true freshman
Ryanne Elmer (Individual): participating in her third tournament of the season

PLAYER TO WATCH
Ellen Mueller, the freshman from Evansville, Ind., is making her eighth apperance in as many Sooner events this season.