Trojans Set To Compete at Rio Verde Intercollegiate

Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational
Dates	Friday, Feb. 22 - Sunday, Feb. 24
Format	18 holes each day
Times	9 a.m. CT tee times from 1 and 10
Location	Rio Verde, Ariz.
Course	Rio Verde Country Club
Teams (18)	Little Rock, Akron, Arkansas State, Ball State, Boise State, Bowling Green, Bradley, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Illinois State, Missouri State, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Seton Hall, UMKC, Western Michigan, Wichita State, Xavier
Scoring	GolfStat

Opening Tee
Little Rock's second tournament of the spring season takes the Trojans to a familiar place, returning to Rio Verde, Arizona for the 2019 Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational, hosted by Western Michigan, February 22-24.
 
Tournament Information
The 2019 Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational will be a 54-hole tournament, played over the course of three days February 22-24 at Rio Verde Country Club, a par-72, 6,218-yard course. The teams will play 18 holes per day, beginning with tee times from holes one and 10 at 9 a.m. CT each morning. Live scoring of the event will be available at Golfstat.com.
 
Tournament Field
Little Rock will be one of 18 teams competing in Arizona this weekend and is one of two Sun Belt schools, joined by rival Arkansas State. Six of this week's teams are currently ranked among the Golfstat Top-150, including Seton Hall (No. 78), Xavier (No. 113), Northern Illinois (No. 114), Wichita State (No. 122), Boise State (No. 129) and Missouri State (No. 144), with an additional seven ranked among the Top-200, including Little Rock's No. 185 ranking.
 
Trojan Lineup
Little Rock's lineup at the Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational will consist of three freshmen, a junior and a senior, as Little Rock seeks its fourth top-10 team finish of the season.
 

Golfer	Rds.	Strokes	Avg.	Low	Par-	10/20
Kellie Gachaga	15	1,184	78.93	72	0	0/0
Tilde Bocker	18	1,375	76.39	71	1	0/1
Emelie Blennow	18	1,350	75.00	68	4	2/1
Malena Austerslaatt	15	1,173	78.20	72	1	0/0
Thea Wakeford-Wesmann	15	1,205	80.33	76	0	0/0

Little Rock at the Rio Verde Intercollegiate
The yearly trip to Arizona has become a staple in the Trojans' schedule with Little Rock making its 13th trip to Rio Verde in the last 14 years. Little Rock has finished among the top-10 11 times during that span, highlighted by a runner-up showing in 2007 and third place finishes in 2006 and 2013. Last season, the Trojans placed sixth among 17 teams as Sabrina Bonanno (T-11th) and Lucy Owen (T-19th) both finished among the individual top-20.
 
Last Time Out
Little Rock opened the spring season in Texas, finishing 14th at the Texas State Intercollegiate on February 11-12. The Trojans logged a 63-over 915 over the 54-hole event as freshmen Kellie Gachaga and Tilde Bocker tied for 37th overall with a 12-over 225. The duo each registered even-par 72s over the two-day event, finishing three shots ahead of fellow freshman Malena Austerslaatt's 15-over 228.
 
Trojans on the Road
This week's event in Arizona adds to Little Rock's travel this season as Little Rock will compete in its fifth different state this season. Once the Trojans return from Rio Verde, Little Rock will have logged nearly 6,500 miles to date – a number that will continue to grow. The Trojans compete in tournaments in Florida, Texas, and Tennessee this spring before returning to Florida for the 2019 Sun Belt Conference Championship in April.
 
Looking Ahead
Little Rock's spring tournament continues with its first of two trips to Florida this season, heading to Dade City, Florida for the Spring Break Shootout, hosted by Western Kentucky. The two-day event will be held Monday, March 11 and Tuesday, March 12 at Lake Jovita Golf Club.
 
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