The Alabama State women's and men's golf teams will compete for national championships this week, both in the state of Florida.
The 2011 SWAC Women's Golf Champion Lady Hornets will make their first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament and will play in the East Regional in Daytona Beach, Fla.
The men's team, runners-up in the SWAC Tournament for the third straight year, will compete in the 25th annual PGA Minority Golf Championship in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
“It's time to just relax and play in control,” head coach Gary Grandison said. “We'll strive to represent the school well, and represent the community well.”
The women's golf team will be one of 24 teams in the East Regional. The LPGA International's Legends Course (par 72, 6,271 yards) will challenge the teams in the three-day, 54-hole tournament.
“There's nothing new to prepare for, other than I gave them pictures of the course,” Grandison said. “They have the yardage and they are familiar as much as possible about the weather conditions. In terms of practicing, we went through our normal routine in getting ready. From there, we are just going to focus on preparing for the environment, the conditions and layout of the course.”
The men's team will look to finish the year strong as well and is one of 12 Division I teams competing at the PGA Golf Club's Wanamaker Course (par 72, 6,875 yards). SWAC teams Alabama A&M, Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern are also slated to compete.
And while the men's team is returning to a course they played last year, Grandison gave them the same materials in preparation.
“I gave them information about the course, the likely conditions, but also the magnitude of the tournament,” Grandison said. “The men's tournament is just as important as the NCAA Regional because it is the national championship."
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