NCAA Central Regional
WHEN: Thursday-Saturday (tee times begin at 8 a.m.)
WHERE: Ohio State University Golf Club, Scarlet Course (par 72, 6,264 yards)
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA - The Big East champion Bulls are set to embark on a new postseason journey.
The No. 16 seeded USF women's golf team is in Columbus, Ohio for the NCAA Central Regional that takes place Thursday through Saturday at the Ohio State University Golf Club. The top eight teams from three regional sites will advance to the NCAA Championship May 22-25 at Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin, Tenn.
"This is a talented team and there is absolutely no reason that we can't finish in the top eight. Our sights are set high," USF head coach Marci Kornegay said. "If these guys stay consistent, smart and patient then I think we've got a good chance. We have to stick to our game plan for three days."
USF followed the plan pretty well April 24 when it edged Notre Dame by a stroke to capture the program's first Big East Championship trophy. Big East Player of the Year Christina Miller finished third individually while All-Big East teammates Kelli Pry and Shena Yang also finished in the top 10.
Amy West also posted a strong showing by finishing in 10th place and Kornegay has been pleased with Anna Hancock's practice rounds leading up to the regional.
"We're five players deep right now. I think they're in a good place," Kornegay said.
The Bulls will certainly be tested this week on a par-72, 6,264-yard Scarlet Course they haven't seen this season.
"This course is really demanding. You need your attention on every shot," Kornegay said after Wednesday's practice round. "There are places out here that you don't want to be."
USF might be short of experience on the course but it has a valuable tour guide. Assistant coach Janice Olivencia, the 2002 Big 12 Player of the Year, had much success at the Buckeyes' home course for the University of Texas.
"She's played the course several times in her college career and has won out here a couple of times," Kornegay said. "She knows all the little nooks and crannies of the course. She was a great help in the practice round."
You can get live scoring of Thursday's first round at Golfstat.com and Twitter updates @tomzeboldusf.
A Look at the Central Regional Field
(seeds in parenthesis)
1. Southern California
2. Auburn
3. Georgia
4. Vanderbilt
5. Tennessee
6. Ohio State
7. Oregon
8. North Carolina State
9. Virginia
10. Florida State
11. Purdue
12. Arkansas
13. Ole Miss
14. Kentucky
15. Texas State
16. South Florida
17. Notre Dame
18. Texas - San Antonio
19. East Carolina
20. Michigan
21. UNC Wilmington
22. Harvard
23. Butler
24. Siena
