DOVER, Del. - Sunday will mark the first time in Delaware State University history that a women's golf team steps on the links with a Hornets uniform as DSU opens their inaugural season with theTignanelli Towson Invitational, held at the Towson Golf and Country Club.
The two-day event will feature a talented field of 18 teams including St. John's, Delaware, William & Mary, Towson and defending champion Old Dominion. The teams will tee-off beginning at 1:30 p.m. Sunday and at approximately 8 a.m. Monday.
With a roster full of freshmen new to the collegiate game, Delaware State head coach Scott Thornton expects some nerves, but feels the team will settle down quickly.
"I'm anxious to see how things play out and how the ladies take it to the course," remarked Thornton. "I'm happy with how they've practice to this point, but I'm excited to finally get some competition in."
Thornton is pleased so far with the off-course chemistry that he has seen with his 2012-13 squad, which includes six freshmen and one sophomore.
"When recruiting these ladies, I picked everybody based on their scores, academic performances and then as a person," Thornton commented. "I looked at how they were going to react with me and also with each other. I think I did a better job than I originally thought I was going to do. My biggest concern was how they'll get along and that is definitely not an issue."
The Hornets will be led by freshmen Marie-France Finn (Memramcook, New Brunswick, Canada) and Nicole Rafer (Berlin, Md.), who will start as no. 1 and 2 for Delaware State. Freshman Elaine Aisha Peete (Ponte Vedra, Fla.) will be placed in the third spot for the Hornets while fellow freshmen Brooke Foster (Prior Lake, Minn.) and Ellisa Lee (Ellicott City, Md.) round out the starting five.
Also on the roster for DSU are sophomore Emily Montero (Orlando, Fla.), who will be eligible to compete for the Hornets starting in the second semester, and freshman Mengxuan "Rebecca" Gai (Guangzhou, China).
"Each and every one of us is excited to build this program and set first-time marks," stated Thornton.
Including this weekend's event, the Hornets will play in five fall tournaments.
"The hardest competition will definitely be this first one because our ladies don't know what to expect," Thornton commented. "I have an idea of what we're going to do, but this is the first and any first will produce nerves."
Following the Tignanelli Towson Invitational, the team will travel to Charleston, S.C. for the South Carolina State Invitational, held at Patriots Point September 29 through October 2.
October 14-16 will mark a significant weekend for Delaware State University and Dover golf enthusiasts as the Hornets will host the inaugural Delaware State Invitational at Maple Dale Country Club. Schools committed at this point include Towson, Hofstra, Hampton and Quinnipiac.
The Hornets travel north to Cromwell, Conn. the following weekend for the Quinnipiac Bobcat Invitational, split between the TPC River Highlands and The Farms Country Club.
"The Quinnipiac event will definitely feature the toughest course of the year," Thornton said. "The TPC Highlands is a PGA course and it will test everyone to their limits."
DSU wraps up their fall slate with the Savannah State Invitational, held November 9-11 at the Crosswinds Golf Club.
The 2013 DSU women's golf spring schedule is slated to be released mid-fall.
To stay current with Hornet golf, follow the team online at twitter.com/DSUWgolf.
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