Who: Women’s Golf
What: Darius Rucker Intercollegiate
When: March 2-4
Where: Hilton Head, S.C.
What to look for: No. 19 Texas tees off against five of the nation’s top 25 opponents in the second tournament of the spring, including No. 2 Alabama.
Star Watch: Senior Nicole Vandermade is looking for her third consecutive top 10 finish against some of the nation’s top golfers. Vandermade has ascended the ranks to as high as No. 7 individually in the country this season and currently sits at No. 17. She will be tested this weekend against four of the nation’s top 10 golfers.
Last Time: After a strong opening round at the UCF Challenge, Texas struggled in the second round, dropping them five places in the standings. The Longhorns scraped back in the final round with one of the field’s best rounds to finish 9th and in the top-half of the field. Vandermade finished 9th overall individually.
What’s on the Line: Although there will not be any current Big 12 opponents competing at this tournament, the defending conference champs must reassert their prowess as No. 20 Baylor, No. 22 Texas A&M and No. 28 Texas Tech are right on Texas’ heels. Baylor topped Texas by 26 strokes at the UCF Challenge just three weeks ago, finishing second overall. Future Big 12 opponent TCU will be in the field this weekend.
The Course: Long Cove Club golf course is known for its beautiful, but also challenging holes. Located on Hilton Head Island on the Atlantic coast, the par-71 6,160-yard course has ranked in the top 100 courses to play by Golf Digest for the last thirty years.
