Golf team back home in search of spring’s first team win

After two consecutive second-place finishes, the

No. 3-ranked Georgia’s women’s golf team hopes a little home cooking will help them capture their first team win of the spring.

Today the Lady Bulldogs host the 35th annual Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic at the University Golf Course. Admission is free.

A good start today will set the pace for the final round Saturday.

“As long as we put ourselves in a better position on the first day, we will be fine,” Hetzel said.

The tournament will include 18 teams, nine of which are in the top 25 of the Golf Stat/Sagarin Performance Index. Georgia has won the last three Liz Murphey tournaments.

Senior Whitney Wade will try to make it four straight wins.

“We always seem to pull it out,” she said. “We always manage to play solid and come out on top. The home course advantage really helps.”

Head coach Todd McCorkle believes being at home will not affect the team’s focus.

“Being at home, there are some distractions, but they are more than made up for by the fact that we
are very familiar with the golf course,” McCorkle said.

One distraction will be the absence of All-American sophomore Taylor Leon, who will miss the tournament after receiving an exemption to play in the LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship.

“Taylor has been so consistent. We are going to have to have some good rounds to make up for her not being here,” McCorkle said.

- Robinns Exume

Softball team faces test against Gators

The No. 18-ranked Georgia softball team (28-9, 4-1 SEC) will face its first big test of the SEC season this weekend in a three-game series at No. 22 Florida (20-14, 2-6).

The Bulldogs travel to Gainesville on a roll, having won 13 of their last 14 contests.

The series will begin with a doubleheader set to begin at 1 p.m. Saturday and will conclude with a third game at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

The Bulldogs do not need any extra motivation for the border war.

“You want to beat every school, but when you play those rivals, it does have that little extra kick,” catcher Melissa Wood said.

-Lawrence Coneff