Sooners Return to Action in San Antonio

NORMAN -- The University of Oklahoma women's golf team returns to action this weekend when it travels to San Antonio, Texas, for the 15-team Alamo Invitational. The event will be played Sunday through Tuesday at the 6,428-yard, par-72 Briggs Ranch Golf Club.

The youthful Sooners are coming off a 17th-place finish at the Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational in Chapel Hill, N.C. Freshman Ana Ruiz was OU's top finisher, carding a 222 (+6) and tying for 25th place.

Sixth-year OU head coach Veronique Drouin-Luttrell said she's excited to see how her team responds in the Alamo Invitational.

“We've had a couple of weeks to practice between Chapel Hill and this one in San Antonio,” Drouin-Luttrell said. “We like going there. It's a great golf course that sets up really well for us. We know it well. We know where to hit it and how to manage the course, so hopefully Alex (Kaui) will be able to take everyone under her wing and teach them how to play the course.”

THE FIELD (GOLFWEEK/SAGARIN RANKINGS IN PARENTHESES)
Arkansas (7)
Auburn (19)
LSU (23)
Texas A&M (24)
Baylor
Florida State
Houston
Oklahoma
SMU
TCU
Texas
Texas State
Texas Tech
Tulane
UTSA

OU LINEUP
1. Ana Ruiz, Freshman: Coming off a tie for 25th place at the Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational … Recorded a season-best 71 (-1) in the first round of the Tar Heel Invitational … Placed 64th at the season-opening Schooner Fall Classic … Recorded 11 top-10 AJGA finishes … Is from Chihuahua, Mexico.

2. Alexandra Kaui, Sophomore: Coming off a tie for 53rd place at the Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational … Placed second at last year's Alamo Invitational and set school records for 18-hole score (7-under 65) and 54-hole score (10-under 206) … Tied for 12th place in the season-opening Schooner Fall Classic … 2013-14 Big 12 Freshman of the Year.

3. Hannah Wood, Freshman: Coming off a tie for 53rd place at the Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational … Tied for 16th place at the season-opening Schooner Fall Classic … Has registered two under-par rounds this season … Winner of the 2013 Kathy Whitworth Invitational.

4. Rylee Pedigo, Freshman: Coming off a tie for 89th place at the Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational … Tied for 86th place in the season-opening Schooner Fall Classic … Qualified for the 2014 U.S. Women's Amateur.

5. Maggie Neece, Sophomore: Coming off a 91st-place finish at the Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational … Finished in 88th place at the season-opening Schooner Fall Classic … Participated in three tournaments last season.

OU'S ALAMO INVITATIONAL HISTORY
The Sooners have had quite the success at the last two Alamo Invitationals. In 2012, OU won the tournament by eight shots and registered what was then the best 54-hole score in OU history at 848 (-16). In 2013, the Sooners shattered their previous record, carding an 840 (-24) in the event and winning the tournament by eight shots. The team also set a school 18-hole record with a 276 (-12) in the final round. Then-freshman Alexandra Kaui broke the OU 18-hole record, logging a 65 (-7) in the final round of the tournament for a three-round 10-under, the best 54-hole score in relation to par in school history.

“Deep down I have a lot of confidence in this course, but I always try to tell myself that what we did last year doesn't matter now,” Kaui said. “I feel like to be a successful athlete you need to focus on what you need to do right now to get what you want.”

THE COURSE
The 6,428-yard, par-72 Briggs Ranch Golf Club serves as the host course for the 2014 Alamo Invitational.

FORMAT
Teams will compete in 54 holes of stroke play over three days (18 holes each Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.)

WEATHER
Sunday: High of 87 degrees with S-SW winds at 5-10 mph and no rain chances.
Monday: High of 88 degrees with S winds at 10-15 mph and a 10 percent chance of rain.
Tuesday: High of 87 degrees with S-SE winds at 5-10 mph and a 10 percent chance of rain.

LIVESTATS
Live stats will be available at BirdieFire.com.