March 31, 2006

The West Texas A&M University men's and women's golf teams will be hosting the WTAMU/ Subway Invitational Monday and Tuesday, April 3-4 at Amarillo, Texas. The 12-team women's field will be competing at Tascosa Country Club, while the 12-team men's field will be playing across the street at La Paloma Golf Club.

The women will play 18 holes each day, while the men will play 36 holes on Monday, followed by 18 holes on Tuesday.

The women's field includes Lone Star Conference schools Cameron University, University of Central Oklahoma, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Tarleton State University and Texas A&M University-Commerce, as well as Montana State University-Billings, the University of Nebraska-Kearney, Oklahoma Panhandle State University, College of the Southwest, University of Texas-Dallas, Western New Mexico University.

Tarleton State is tied for No. 10 in the latest National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) Rankings, while Western New Mexico is tied for No. 13 and Central Oklahoma is tied for No. 19.

The NCAA-II Women's Golf Regional Rankings were released Friday, with Western New Mexico holding down the No. 2 spot, while Tarleton State was eighth and Central Oklahoma 10th.

Grand Canyon University won last year's Women's Subway Invitational, that was shortened to one day due to rainy weather. Individually, WTAMU's Meredith Easley, the current head coach of the Lady Buffs, and Grand Canyon's Jody Chandonnet tied for individual medalist honors. Easley received the first-place trophy after a scorecard playoff.

The men's field includes Lone Star Conference schools Abilene Christian University, Cameron University, East Central University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Southwestern Oklahoma, and Texas A&M-Commerce, along with College of the Southwest, St. Mary's University, Wayland Baptist University and Western New Mexico's varsity and junior varsity squads.

Central Oklahoma is ranked No. 11 in the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA)/Bridgestone Coaches Poll, while St. Mary's is No. 24 and Western New Mexico is among others receiving votes.

WTAMU took the top team honors last year in the rain-shortened tourney, while Abilene Christian's Matt Samples is the defending individual medalist.

This will be the Lady Buffs' and Buffs' final preparations for the LSC Championships April 17-18 at Trophy Club, Texas, as the Buffs and Lady Buffs try to qualify for the NCAA-II Regionals May 1-3 at The Territory Golf Club at Duncan, Okla., hosted by Cameron.

-WT-