March 27, 2008

After a two-week hiatus, Northwestern returns to the links in Tucson, Ariz., competing in the 10th annual MountainView Collegiate. The Wildcats traditionally have had impressive showings in the desert, finishing in the top three in each of the past three seasons, including winning the tournament in 2005.

Played at MountainView Golf Course, NU will once again go against some of the top teams in country, including Arizona (No. 9) and East Carolina (No. 21) who are ranked in Golfweek/Sagarin's top 25. The rest of the field includes Baylor (No. 82), Boise State (No. 94), Colorado State (No. 83), Indiana (No. 49), Iowa State (No. 50), Kansas (No. 62), Kansas State (No. 81), Louisville (No. 27), Michigan (No. 73), Missouri (No. 52), Nebraska (No. 59), Oklahoma (No. 40), San Jose State (No. 38) and Texas Tech (No. 46). The first two rounds will be played Saturday, March 29, beginning at 9 a.m. with the final round starting at 9 a.m. Sunday, March 30.

The Wildcats finished second at the 2007 MountainView Collegiate, four strokes behind first-place Nebraska. Lilian Alvarez finished in a tie for second place after tying a course-record 68 in the second round. NU finished third in 2006 after capturing the tournament championship in 2005.

NU is coming off a 6th-place finish at the Texas A&M "Mo"Morial on March 7-9. Freshman Kelsey Lindenschmidt (West Chester, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) paced Northwestern, putting together a three-round score of 79-80-80 to finish in a tie for 14th. Junior Jennifer Hong (Windmere, Fla./The First Academy) was five strokes behind Lindenschmidt, placing 23rd. Hong shot a 69 in the third round of the 2006 MountainView.

Also expected to compete for the 'Cats this weekend are seniors Katie Trachok (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) and Brittany Johnston (Akron, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) and freshman Rebecca Lederhausen (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central).