June 4, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- Samford golfers Katelyn Stanier and Kelly O'Connell were two Birmingham-area players invited to play in the Women's Southern Amateur Championships this week. The five-day event held at Riverchase Country Club in Hoover, Ala., welcomes a highly competitive field of competitors in its 92nd year.

Both Bulldog competitors are excited about the opportunity to get to play against some of the best amateur golfers in the nation and having a "home-field" advantage is just an added bonus.

"I'm really excited about playing in the Southern Am," said O'Connell. "Katelyn and I have somewhat of a home course advantage because this tournament is being held at a course we play at least once a week during season. I noticed that the field of players includes several players from SEC schools, so this will be a great opportunity to go against some of the best players in the nation."

The course (Riverchase) is in excellent condition," said Stanier, "possibly the best we have ever seen it. And we see it about twice every week in the school year."

In the first day of play on Monday, participants played in a qualifying round, with the low 32 score from 18 holes of stroke play advancing to match play in the championship flight. Freshman Bulldog Stanier qualified with a score of 76 on the par-72, 6,039-yard course.

Stanier will also compete in the 36-hole sectional qualifier for the Women's U.S. Open, June 11, in Annapolis, Md. She recently made it through local qualifying in Atlanta, Ga., and if she qualifies in the sectional qualifier, she will move on to compete in the U.S. Open at Pine Needles Golf Course June 28 - July 1.

"I am very happy to have the opportunity to be in such an event and am looking forward to it," said Stanier