KEVIN JENISON

GoSycamores.com

TERRE HAUTE, IND.  ? The Indiana State women's golf team is hoping to capitalize on their team championship at the Ann Rhoads Birmingham Southern Shootout last month as they compete in the 24th Northern Illinois University Snowbird Invitational this week in Tampa, Fla.

A total of 14 teams will compete in the event which will be played on the Pebble Creek Golf Course in Tampa. The par-71, 6,436 yard layout features 18 holes where trees, wildlife, and water come into play. Division I teams in competition include Indiana State, Loyola-Chicago, IPFW, Northern Illinois, Old Dominion, South Dakota, Weber State, Western Illinois, Eastern Illinois, and Creighton.

The team will get in a practice round today with the first round scheduled for Wednesday and the second round on Thursday. The forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies today and a high of 72 with isolated storms and breezy both Wednesday and Thursday with highs in the low 70s.

Indiana State is currently ranked 154th in the country through six events which include the five fall events and the first event of the spring season. The Sycamores have a 34-16-2 overall mark but are 6-0-0 in the spring season.

The Sycamores championship at the Ann Rhoads Southern Shootout was just their second team title in the short four year history of the program. The Sycamores shot a two-round total of 634 to defeat Tennessee Tech by nine shots over the par 71, 5,803 yard Timberline Golf Club course in Calera, Ala.

Mackenzie Mack and Astrid Parsson finished tied for fourth, each shooting a two-round total of 154. Breanne Smith finished seventh with a 159 total while Diana Price tied for 14th at 165, Britney Martin tied for 21st at 169, Emily Dixon was 23rd at 170, and Kelsea Ice tied for 24th at 171.

All seven will be competing in Florida this week along with Christina Beyerl.