10.5.2011

FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University tied for second at the Nittany Lion Invitational women's golf tournament September 30-October 1 hosted by Penn State University on the Penn State Blue Course in State College, Pennsylvania.  Junior Ariel Witmer|North Lima, Ohio (South Range) won her first collegiate tournament, matching her collegiate-best for 36 holes at even-par 71-73--144 that placed her first in the field of 85.  The Lancers, coached by seventh-year head coach Ali Wright, return to action next Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 10-11, at the 54-hole Lady Pirate Intercollegiate hosted by East Carolina University at the Greenville Country Club in North Carolina.

A Quick Look Back At The Nittany Lion Invitational
Ariel Witmer (144) was followed closely by sophomore Amanda Steinhagen|Oak Hill (Oakton) (146, 2nd), along with fifth-year senior Kameron Carter|Bassett (Bassett) (150, t-11th), junior Ha Lee|Hagerstown, Md. (Smithsburg) (159, t-48th), and sophomore Hannah Pierce|King George (King George) (168, 73rd).  Witmer completed the weather-shortened tourney with seven birdies and 24 pars, followed by Steinhagen with four birdies and 26 pars, Carter with three birdies and 24 pars, Lee with two birdies and 19 pars, and Pierce with one birdie and 16 pars. The opening-round Longwood team score of 292 was the tournament's best as the Lancers finished at 292-307--599, tying with host Penn State (599) while only two shots behind winner Eastern Michigan University (597) at the 6,229-yard, par 72 layout.

Head Coach Ali Wright
“I am very pleased with our first round score at Penn State.  Ariel and Amanda represented our team well finishing first and second amongst a solid field.  A second-place finish at a Big Ten event is outstanding.

“We are looking forward to heading south next week.  The team will be under low stress because they won't be missing any class.  We will be facing a strong field with good opportunity to keep moving higher in the rankings.”

In The Rankings
Longwood is ranked 60th among 252 Division I women's golf teams in this week's Golfstat Rankings.  The Lancers' ranking is based upon their 70.390 winning percentage through three tournaments. UCLA is the top-ranked program this week with its 97.351%.  Longwood is ranked 71st in this week's Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings with a rating of 75.27.  Texas maintained its top ranking this week with its rating of 70.25.

So Close At The Top | Season Statistics
Through three tournaments and eight rounds of golf, only one shot separates the top two golfers for Longwood.  Amanda Steinhagen (593) is averaging 74.13 with a low round of 71, while Ariel Witmer (594) is averaging 74.25 with the team's low round of 70.  Kameron Carter (611) follows with her average of 76.38 with a low round of 73, along with Ha Lee (630-78.75, 74) and Hannah Pierce (647-80.88, 74). The Lancers are averaging 302.50 as a team through three events, and while still early, well ahead of the school-record scoring average of 307.50 during 2010-11 that included one tournament win.

In The Record Book
Ariel Witmer tied for the third-best 54-hole score in school history with her five-over-par 70-74-77--221 at the Yale Women's Intercollegiate (9.17-18), matching that most-recently posted by Kara Spence and teammate Kameron Carter at the same tournament in 2007.  Her two-under round of 70 tied as the fifth-best low round, last attained by, ironically, Spence and Carter in 2008, though at different events that year. Witmer's 36-hole score of even-par 70-74--144 tied the seventh-best in program history, which she matched again at Penn State.

A Look At The Lady Pirate Intercollegiate
The two-day, 54-hole tournament will include 36 holes on Monday, Oct. 10, and 18 holes on Tuesday, Oct. 11.  The Greenville Country Club course will play approximately 5,990-yards and is a par 71 layout.  The University of Maryland is the defending champion after posting an 876 last year.  Longwood finished seventh among 16 teams in the event a year ago with its 903.  Amanda Steinhagen tied for 13th last fall with rounds of 74-74-74--222.

Up Next
Longwood will participate in the Lady Paladin Invitational hosted by Furman University Oct. 28-30, a 54-hole tournament at the Furman Golf Club in Greenville, South Carolina.