Ferris Women's Golf To Open Season Saturday

The Ferris State University women's golf team will open its 2009-10 season this Saturday (Sept. 5) as the Bulldogs host the Ferris State Bulldog Invitational at FSU's Katke Golf Course in Big Rapids, Mich.

Opening-round play will begin at 8:30 a.m. (EDT) with a shotgun start and continuous play for round two.

A total of 17 schools have committed to participate in the annual tournament.  Comprising the tourney field besides Ferris State are Albion, Aquinas, Ashland, California (Pa.), Findlay, Grand Valley State, Hope, Indianapolis, Lake Erie, Lake Superior State, Northern Kentucky, Northwood, Southern Indiana, Tiffin, Trine, and Wittenberg.

"We're excited about getting the season underway," said third-year FSU women's golf head coach Mike Mignano.  "The tournament field this year is really competitive and for most of the teams, it's their first tournament of the season.  The tournament typically has been a two-day event but we went to the one day fo scheduling purposes.

"We want to make this a special home tournament and unique environment for the participants that we're putting up bleachers by the 18th green," added Mignano.

As part of FSU's 2009-10 season-opening tournament, a special promotion for Ferris State Professional Golf Management (PGM) students will be held during the tourney.  Those FSU students who show their PGM identification will receive free pizza and pop. 

Last season, the Bulldog women's golf team placed third at the 2008 Ferris State Bulldog Invitational (8/29-30) with a two-round 615 team score.  Ferris State would go on to nationals as the nationally 10th-ranked Bulldogs finished tied for sixth place at the 2009 NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championships (5/13-16) in Findlay, Ohio.  

Ferris State's most recent Ferris State Bulldog Invitational title occurred in the 2007-08 season (9/1-2) when the Bulldogs turned in a first-place 616 two-round stroke total to place tops among the 18-team tourney field.