The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: Sports

HESTER

Sunscreen, sandals and shorts are included in the suitcases of the No. 7 Georgia women's golf team as it heads to Tempe, Ariz., to compete in the Arizona State Invitational Friday. The three-day event, being held at the Karsten Golf Course, will feature No. 1 UCLA, No. 3 Southern Cal and tournament host No. 4 Arizona State. Vanderbilt will join the Bulldogs as the only two teams east of the Mississippi competing in the tournament.

The team is fresh off a victory on its home course in the Liz Murphey Classic two weeks ago and is ready to continue its winning ways. According to head coach Kelly Hester, the team is ready for the challenge.

"I think we have some pretty good momentum," Hester said. "We just won the Liz Murphey, and jumped a few spots in the rankings."

The team is coming together at the right time of the season, with the SEC Championship on the horizon.

"I like our team chemistry," Hester said. "I feel pretty positive and feel like the girls are headed in the right direction."

The team got a chance to catch a breath this week after finishing the toughest part of its season schedule. The break came at a good time for senior Garrett Phillips.

"I got pretty tired because we played three tournaments in two weeks, so it was pretty exhausting mentally and physically," Phillips said. "I feel like I'm rested up and ready to go."

Phillips is the lone senior on the team and provides solid leadership, which should keep the Bulldogs focused.

"We started creating momentum at our last tournament," Phillips said. "It just needs to carry over with another positive experience out there."

With such stiff competition, the invitational will offer the Bulldogs a chance to gauge themselves as they head into the most important part of the season.

"It's an important tournament leading up to conference, the East regional and nationals, so its sort of a warm-up," Hester said.

"It will be our last tournament and good opportunity for us to prove ourselves."

This weekend's tournament will be the last regular season event for the Bulldogs before competing in the SEC Championship April 18-20 in Loudon, Tenn.

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