Golf Opens Up Spring Season in Jacksonville

Feb. 5, 2011

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami women’s golf team opens up the spring season competing in the JU Classic in Jacksonville, Fla. Sunday. The three-round tournament will tee off at 9:00 a.m. Sunday morning and go until Tuesday afternoon at the Hidden Hills Country Club in Jacksonville.

The field the Hurricanes will go up against includes Jacksonville, USC Upstate, Mercer, Florida Gulf Coast, Daytona State and South Dakota. Daytona State won this event last year.

The Hidden Hills Country Club in Jacksonville is a 6,045-yard private course designed by Arnold Palmer. The par 72 course opened in 1966 and has hosted many professional events over the years.

Miami is led by senior Maria Ronderos who led the team in the fall with a 73.91 stroke average. The `Canes also return Jennifer Hirano, Christina Hirano, Melanie Kleiner and Shelby Gilbert off of last year’s squad. Newcomers Diana Fisher, Patricia Arana and Carina Cuculiza will compete in their first spring tournament for the orange and green.

No one on Miami’s roster has collegiate experience playing at Hidden Hills.

The Hurricanes took part in four events in the fall highlighted by their 12th of 18 finish at the Palmetto Intercollegiate in Kiawah Island, S.C. in October.

Head coach Patti Rizzo, a UM alumnus, will begin her first spring season as the leader of the golf team. The collegiate All-American took over the program last summer. Rizzo talked about the upcoming season here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgmaGWRcJfc

Check HurricaneSports.com with the latest updates from Jacksonville.