April 11, 2009

KENNESAW, Ga. - The Kennesaw State women's golf team hit the road today, heading to DeLand, Fla. and the pristine Victorian Hills Golf Club in search of a title at their first-ever Atlantic Sun Conference Championship on April 13 - 15.

"As we prepare for our last event of the 2008-09 season, it is very bittersweet," said Kennesaw State Head Coach Rhyll Brinsmead. "As a team we are excited to compete in the first A-Sun championship for women's golf at KSU, but this is also Laura Lindsey's last event and she will be sorely missed."

Ashley Aguilera has been the Owls leader of late and is familiar with the course after playing her junior golf in Florida. Aguilera has finished inside of the top 10 in three of her last four events, including a tie for 7th at Ole Miss' Rebel Intercollegiate in the Owls last event.

Aguilera's former teammates at Daytona State College, and current members of the Black and Gold squad, Lindsey and Jordan Lazenby, are also experienced on the Championship track.

"I am very confident that the team will play extremely well this week ," added Brinsmead. "It is a course Jordan, Ashley and Laura have all played from their time at Daytona, so I feel this will give us an edge on the field."

The Owls two freshman have also been crucial to the lineup and will be looked upon to continue their strong play if KSU is to have a shot at the title. Patricia Arana led the team in her first three events after joining the Owls over the winter break, and currently leads the team with a 77.3 scoring average.

Malin Becker, who has been bothered by a sore shoulder in the team's last two events, will be looking for her third top 25 finish of the season in DeLand.

East Tennessee State is the defending champion after winning the 2007-08 title at their home Ridges Golf and Country Club. The Bucs Laura Jansone will be back to defend her individual title, after she edged Belmont's Lorie Warren and Campbell's Belen Diaz Cisneros by a single stroke last year.

"We have had a good week of practice in preparation this event," concluded Brinsmead. "If we can go out and execute the way I know this team can, I have no doubts we will challenge for the title."

This is the first year that the Owls are eligible to play for the Conference title after beginning the transition to Division I two years ago. Though they are not eligible for a bid to the NCAA Regionals because they are still in the transition period, the Owls would be crowned Conference champions should they win.

The teams will play 18 holes each day, with the champions being crowned following the conclusion of play on Wednesday. Live scoring will be provided through Golfstat and can be accessed by clicking on the live scoring link on the right-hand side of the Kennesaw State Athletics home page at www.ksuowls.com.