ASU will be returning to Oklahoma to compete in the Schooner Fall Classic from Oct. 5 to Oct. 7. The Sun Devils are looking to continue their success after finishing second at the Mason Rudolph Invitational in Tennessee.
The team has been working out of dormant bermuda grass, preparing for the type of terrain it will face this weekend at the Belmar Golf Club.
ASU will have a slightly different look to the lineup, as freshman Monica Vaughn, junior Noemi Jimenez and senior Laura Blanco will not be able to qualify for the tournament. Coach Melissa Luellen says that the team’s goal is to win the tournament.
“Our team wants to win this tournament as we are one of the top-rated teams in the field,” said Luellen. “Noemi, Monica and Laura are all exempt from qualifying because of their top-20 finishes at the last tournament.”
The course that they will play is owned by country singer Toby Keith and his wife Tricia, so the Sun Devils are preparing especially hard to perform well.
“Rumor has it that Toby Keith will be performing for our players on Friday night,” Luellen said.
As an added incentive on top of that, the winner of the event will receive $3,000 to donate to the charity of their choice.
The Sun Devils won't have much of a layover before they're back on the course — the Betsy Rawls Invitational will be held the following weekend. Much of how the players perform in Oklahoma this weekend will be a factor for Luellen’s decision.
“We don’t have much time between tournaments, so I will be picking the team for the next tournament in Austin, (Texas), held over fall break,” Luellen said. “So qualifying results and tournament performance will be a major factor in my decision.”
Reach the reporter at afeyrer@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @coffeeblack910
