The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Women's Golf Makes 2005-06 Debut
9/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Sept. 16, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB women's golf team begins its 2005-06 campaign this weekend when it participates in the 2005 Ann Rhoads Invitational hosted by the University of Alabama. The three-round tournament will be played Saturday through Monday at the Ol' Colony Club in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and will play at par-72, 7,041 yards.
"We're excited to get started and ready to see what kind of shape we're in to start the season," UAB head coach Kim Wilcox said. "We have steadily improved as a program in each of the last three years and I expect no different this year. We lost some big-time talent from last year, but we have some big-time talent returning and some promising newcomers that could make us a very good golf team. We can't wait to get started."
The big-time loss Wilcox referred to is that of last year's seniors Brooke Mangan and Liz Schweihs. Mangan became the Blazers' first-ever NCAA Regional Tournament participant in May when she earned an individual at-large bid. Schweihs, meanwhile, quietly led UAB's contingent in three of its last four tournaments in 2004-05.
Filling those shoes begins with 2005-06 lone senior Janey Deimling, a third-team All-Conference USA selection last season. The Nanaimo, British Columbia product trimmed nearly four strokes off her sophomore stroke average last year and is expected to be UAB's No. 1 from the outset this year.
"There's some pressure there that Janey feels being the leader of this team," Wilcox said. "But she feels it because she cares so much about her teammates and the program. We spent some time last season preparing her to take the mantle of team leader. She's ready and I expect her to be a model of consistency once again for us."
Junior Martha Hudson, who underwent offseason shoulder surgery, is expected to be a mainstay of the Blazers this season as well, but may not be back to full tournament conditioning until midseason. Hudson was cleared to play her first 18-hole round just this week. Junior Lois Jones, a former walk-on who earned a scholarship last season, will continue to hold a spot in the UAB lineup based on her tournament experience.
From there, it's the UAB newcomers who will determine the success of this year's team. Talented freshmen Christina Wentworth and Krista Tressler are joined by sophomore transfer Ashlee Claydon in the Blazers' rookie class. Wentworth, a highly-rated and decorated junior golfer from Macon, Ga., will be in UAB's lineup in the Ann Rhoads Invitational, as will Claydon, who has a solid year of experience under her belt at NAIA school Missouri Baptist.
"We're expecting all three to be first-rate contributors this season," Wilcox said. "Christina is a seasoned tournament player who is a cut-throat competitor out there. Ashlee is a solid golfer who will turn in consistent scores for us. Krista has a tremendous upside and also had an outstanding junior golf career. I could see all three being instrumental for us this year."
The Ann Rhoades Invitational field features a handful of the top women's teams in the South, including eight rated in the top-100 teams in the final 2004-05 Golfweek Magazine ratings. UAB and host Alabama are joined in the field by Augusta State, Belmont, Birmingham-Southern, East Carolina, Jacksonville State, Memphis, Miami (Fla.), Middle Tennessee State, Murray State, Ole Miss, Samford, Troy and UNC Wilmington.
