COLLEGE STATION, Texas -The Texas A&M women's golf team, led by fifth-year head coach Trelle McCombs, announced its 2011-12 schedule on Thursday. The Aggies will compete in four fall tournaments and five spring events followed by postseason play.
Fresh off its top 10 finish at the 2011 NCAA Championships, Texas A&M will get the season underway by hosting the "Mo"morial Invitational at Traditions Club on Sept. 11-13.
The Aggies will have their toughest competition during the Fall Preview Sept. 23-25 at the Vanderbilt Legends Club, site of the 2012 NCAA Championship. This invitation-only event is open to the top finishing teams at last year's championship.
A&M next travels to Norman, Okla., for the Susie Maxwell Berning Classic Oct. 16-18 and wraps up the fall at The Alamo Invitational in San Antonio Oct. 30-Nov. 1.
"We're staying pretty close to home this fall, with the exception of the Preview, which will be the best field we will see," McCombs said. "In addition to our home tournament, competing nearby will give fans a few more opportunities to see us compete."
The spring kicks off with a return trip to the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate in New Orleans Feb. 26-28 and features stops at the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational in Honolulu, Hawaii (March 13-14), a visit to San Diego for the Battle at Rancho Bernardo (March 18-20) and a trip to the PING/ASU Invitational in Tempe, Ariz. (March 30-April 1).
"We enjoyed our stay in New Orleans last year and played well in that event under some good conditions," McCombs said. "Our tournaments in Hawaii and San Diego are over Spring Break and will be a lot of fun. We get to take individuals to both of those events, so our students-athletes will have some incentive to travel and compete."
A&M will begin the postseason at the Big Championship which takes place April 27-29 at Lawrence Country Club in Lawrence, Kan. NCAA Regional play is set for May 10-12 and the NCAA Championship is scheduled for May 22-25 at Vanderbilt Legends Club.
"Each year we try and play the best fields we can," said McCombs. "In the spring, we have a chance to play some great teams to make sure we're peaking at the right time and to get us primed and ready for the postseason."
Texas A&M is coming off a seventh place finish at last year's NCAA Championship. The Aggies return a solid corps of young players, including four from its postseason lineup highlighted by sophomore-to-be Katerina Ruzickova. A&M also welcomes newcomers Patricia Garcia, Kirby Kramer, Alex Neal and LSU transfer Mary Michael Maggio.