Feb. 8, 2008

McNeese State's women's golf team will open its season this weekend when the Cowgirls host their own Cowgirl Invitational. The third annual tournament begins Saturday with an 8 a.m. shotgun start at Koasati Pines in Kinder, La. The 16 team field will play 36 holes Saturday and will conclude with 18 holes on Sunday beginning at 8 a.m.

South Alabama is the defending champion. The Jaquars won the 2007 tournament with a 932 team total, a one stroke victory over Lamar at 933. The Cowgirls finished fifth with a 955 tournament total in the 11 team field.

Lamar's Therese Nilsson was the individual medalist with a two stroke victory over South Alabama's Elin Andersson and Central Arkansas Nicole Forshner. Nilsson ended the tournament with a seven over par 223 and Andersson and Forshner both shot a tournament total 225.

Other teams taking part in the two-day tournament are Southland Conference members Lamar, Nicholls State, Sam Houston State, Central Arkansas, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Texas San Antonio.

Non-conference schools taking part besides South Alabama include Wichita State, the 2006 Inaugural Tournament Champions, Troy State, Centenary, Louisiana-Monroe, Arkansas State, Florida International, Houston Baptist and McClennan Junior College.

Junior Maggie Welch will lead the Cowgirls into the season opening tournament after posting a 76.7 stroke average in the Fall. Welch placed in the Top 20 in four of five Fall tournaments and finished in the Top 5 twice.

Sophomore Lacy McKinley was second on the team with a 79.5 stroke average and finished in the top five once.