2009-10 Schedule

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.---The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's golf team begins its third season of competition right where it left off.  The Lady Mocs finished 21st in the 2009 NCAA Finals and open the 2009-10 season at the prestigious Hooters Collegiate Match Play Championship at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The event is played Sept. 6-8 on the Legends Course at LPGA International with 16 teams competing in a hybrid match/medal play format over the three days.  Day One features 36 holes of medal play to determine the eight-team championship and consolation brackets.  The second and third days of competition features teams play in match play format.

This will be the seventh year of the event with defending champion Duke returning.  The Blue Devils have captured five of the previous six titles with Purdue's win in 2005 breaking the string.

"It is a great event," said Chattanooga head coach Colette Murray.  "It's rewarding because it shows how far our program has come in a very short time.  After last year, the ladies know what to expect and know they belong among the best teams in college golf."

The Lady Mocs return all seven letterwinners from 2008-09.  Six of the seven saw action as starters making the competition for the travel squad fierce.

Junior Emma de Groot (75.89) returns as a two-time All-Southern Conference performer.  Her 2008 SoCon Freshman of the Year honor was matched by sophomore Maria Salinas (76.39) in 2009 as was the All-SoCon mention.

Also on the trip are senior Kayla Stewart (77.31), sophomore Maria Juliana Loza (78.34) and junior Christine Wolf (78.03).  Those five are the stroke play roster, while sophomore Moa Duf (78.57) is also on the trip as a possible sub during the match play rounds.  Stewart, a 2009 U.S. Women's Amateur qualifier, split time with Duf starting last season, while Loza is coming off an all-freshman team year.

"I am very excited about this group," added Murray.  "Qualifying went really well and was very competitive.  It is a deep squad so the competition to travel should strengthen us for tournament play throughout the year."

The Lady Mocs finished 2009 ranked No. 44.  This field includes six top 10 teams from 2009 and nine in the final top 25.  Every team in the field was ranked in the top 50.

Following the match play, Chattanooga travels to Las Vegas for the inaugural Golfweek Conference Challenge Sept. 13-15 at the Primm Valley Casino Resorts Desert Course.