Lady Topper golf returns labor day weekend, program to tee off at USA Intercollegiate

Western+Kentucky+Hilltoppers+women%E2%80%99s+golfer+Sarah+Arnold+plays+a+practice+round+at+Olde+Stone+Country+Club.%C2%A0

WKU Athletics

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers women’s golfer Sarah Arnold plays a practice round at Olde Stone Country Club. 

Drew Toennies, Sports reporter

Lady Topper Golf tees off for the 2021-22 season on Sept. 4-6 as the WKU Women’s Golf program competes at the USA Intercollegiate over Labor Day Weekend.

WKU has made a name for itself at the USA Intercollegiate, winning the event in 2020 to become the first WKU team to compete in the fall following the start of the pandemic and claiming the first collegiate golf victory since sports were shut down in March of 2020.

The entire Lady Topper roster will make the trip to Mobile, Alabama to play at the par-72, 6,002-yard Magnolia Grove – Crossings Course. Transfer senior Kenlie Barrett will lead off the WKU lineup followed by returning junior Sarah Arnold. Two of the newest additions to the lineup are freshman Catie Craig at No. 3 and Faith Martin at No. 4.

WKU’s lineup will conclude with sophomore Rachel Rich. Sophomores Addie Westbrook and fifth year Olivia Reed will travel with the squad to compete as individuals.

The USA Intercollegiate features a 17-team field including seven squads that were ranked inside the top-100 on Golfstat’s final rankings during the 2020-21 season. The Lady Toppers finished the year ranked No. 85 and will be met by No. 50 Sam Houston State, No. 73 South Florida, host No. 82 South Alabama, No. 98 Memphis, No. 99 Middle Tennessee and No. 100 Arkansas State.

Tee off is currently scheduled for 8 a.m. CT. Teams will play 18 holes a day and the winners will be crowned on Monday afternoon.

Sports reporter Drew Toennies can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @drew_toennies.