Women's Golf Preview: Kent State Heads to Notre Dame for NCAA Regionals

Making its 11th appearance at the NCAA Regionals, the Kent State women's golf team will participate in the 24-team field at the 2011 NCAA Central Regional, hosted by the University of Notre Dame at Warren Golf Course in South Bend, Ind., May 5-7.

This week marks the 11^th consecutive appearance for Kent State in the NCAA Regional round; the team is aiming for its second consecutive trip to the NCAA Championship and fifth in the team's 13-year program history.

For the NCAA Regional, Warren Golf Course will play as a par-72, 6,208 test for a field of 126 golfers. Along with 24 teams of five golfers, six individuals will also vie for spots to advance to the NCAA Championship.

Kent State will participate in a practice round Wednesday, May 4 before starting the three-round, 54-hole championship Thursday morning. Teams will play 18 holes each day Thursday through Saturday, weather permitting. The top eight teams from each of the three regional sites will advance to the NCAA Championship at Traditions Golf Course in College Station, Texas, May 18-21.

Kent State's practice round on Wednesday will begin from the No. 1 tee at 10:18 a.m. The Golden Flashes will begin the regional Thursday at 8 a.m. starting from No. 10. Friday's round will start at 12:20 p.m., teeing off from the No. 1 tee. Kent State's start for the final round on Saturday will be dependent upon the team's standing through the first two rounds.

Scouting the Flashes

• 2011 Mid-American Conference Golfer of the year Martina Gavier continues to lead the Golden Flashes, as the senior was the top finisher for Kent State in five events this season and has been in the top 10 in 20 of her 45 career events. Boasting a 74.4 stroke average this season, Gavier ranks in the top 10 in Kent State career marks in career stroke average (75.5).

• Junior and fellow Argentinean Mercedes Germino was named a second-team all-MAC performer in 2011, marking her third season as an all-conference selection. Germino's best finish this season came at the Central District Invitational Feb. 21-22, where she tied for fifth overall. This season, Germino is averaging 76.2 strokes per round.

• In the third spot, junior Mandi Morrow garnered second-team all-MAC accolades and finished the regular season with a third-place finish at the Lady Buckeye Spring Invitational April 16-17. On the year, Morrow owns a 76.5 stroke average.

• Senior Sarah Bradley has been a strong addition for Kent State after joining the Golden Flashes last season. Bradley, a second-team all-MAC honoree, paced Kent State with a third-place finish at the 2011 MAC Championship April 22-24. Bradley owns a 76.8 stroke average this season.

• Junior Shamira Marshall has shown a penchant for the big stage as she finished fifth at the MAC Championships this season, helping her earn all-tournament team honors for the second straight year. As a junior, Marshall is averaging 77.0 strokes per round as Kent State's fifth golfer.

Scouting the Tournament Field

UCLA earned the top seed for the Central Regional, as Golf Week/Sagarin ranks the Bruins No. 2. Nationally. Including Kent State (No. 35), 17 teams are in the ranking's top 50 and 22 are in the top 100.

Of the 24 teams in the Central Regional, seven earned their NCAA tournament berths via their conference championship victory: Butler, Chattanooga, Illinois State, Kent State, Morehead State, Notre Dame and Texas. Of those, Texas is the highest seeded team at No. 6.

Although the tournament field and venue has changed, Kent State senior Martina Gavier is looking to defend her Central Regional title after capturing medalist honors at the 2010 Regional at Otter Creek Golf Club in Columbus, Ind. Gavier edged Southern California's Lizette Salas by two strokes, posting a three-over 219 (72-75-72).

As the No. 11 seed, Kent State will be paired with No. 10 Ohio State and No. 12 Chattanooga for the first two rounds of the tournament. The Golden Flashes are slated to tee-off Thursday from the 10^th hole starting at 8 a.m., with flights leaving the tee every 11 minutes.

Next Up

The top eight teams from each of the three regional tournaments will advance to the NCAA Championship at Traditions Golf Course in College Station, Texas, May 18-21.

	Sarah Bradley Senior Cambridge, New Zealand Golfweek/Sagarin ranking: 202 2010-11 Stroke Average: 76.8 Lowest round in 2010-11: 71 on two occasions Lowest tournament round in 2010-11: Central District Invitational (77-71-74=222) Notes: 2011 MAC Second Team • MAC Co-Golfer of the Week Feb. 17 • 2010 NGCA All-America Scholar
	Martina Gavier Senior Cordoba, Argentina Golfweek/Sagarin ranking: 65 2010-11 Stroke Average: 74.4 Lowest round in 2010-11: 65 at Mercedes-Benz Championship, 3^rd round Lowest tournament round in 2010-11: Mercedes-Benz Championship (73-70-65=208) Notes: 2011, 10 MAC Golfer of the Year • 2010 MAC Championship medalist • 2010 Third-Team Academic All-America • 2010 NGCA All-America Scholar
	Mercedes Germino Junior Necochea, Argentina Golfweek/Sagarin ranking: 224 2010-11 Stroke Average: 76.2 Lowest round in 2010-11: 71 on four occasions Lowest tournament round in 2010-11: Central District Invitational (71-71-75=217) Notes: 2011 All-MAC Second Team • 2009 MAC Championship medalist • 2010 NGCA All-America Scholar
	Shamira Marshall Junior Macedonia, Ohio Golfweek/Sagarin ranking: 308 2010-11 Stroke Average: 77.0 Lowest round in 2010-11: 69 at SunTrust Lady Gator Invitational, 1^st round Lowest tournament round in 2010-11: Mercedes-Benz Championship (74-74-72=220) Notes: 2011 All-MAC Second Team • 2011, 2010 MAC All-Tournament Team
	Mandi Morrow Junior Kent, Ohio Golfweek/Sagarin ranking: 193 2010-11 Stroke Average: 76.5 Lowest round in 2010-11: 69 at Las Vegas Showdown, 2^nd round Lowest tournament round in 2010-11: Las Vegas Showdown (75-69-74=218) Notes: 2011 All-MAC Second Team • Third-place finish at 2011 Lady Buckeye Invitational