MONROE, La. – The ULM women's golf team is the first Warhawk squad to return to intercollegiate play since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic as it opens the USA Invitational, hosted by South Alabama, at RTJ Golf Trail Crossings Course at Magnolia Grove in Mobile on Saturday. The tournament continues Sunday and Monday.
The Crossings Course is a par-72 course over 6,002 yards featuring four par-3 holes and four par-5 holes.
ULM Director of Golf Tim Baldwin returns five golfers from last season: senior Shani White, juniors Eva Bjornsdottir, Sharmaine Rapisura and Jahaanvie Walia and freshman Line Petersen. The group is joined by four newcomers on the roster: sophomore transfer Chantal Dueringer and freshmen Charlotte Fourdraine, Alessia Mengoni and Kaitlyn Montoya.
For the opening weekend of the season, Baldwin will use a lineup featuring Dueringer, Walia, Fourdraine, Petersen and White, while Bjornsdottir will compete as an individual.
"The girls are ready to start the new year," Baldwin said. "It's been a little bit slow out of the box with COVID protocols and Hurricane Laura, but we were able to get in three rounds of qualifying to determine the travel squad."
Dueringer joins the Warhawks after playing the previous two seasons at New Mexico State. The Bregenz, Austria, native played in four tournaments and produced a 77.60 stroke average in 10 rounds as a sophomore in 2019-20. She tallied 26 birdies, and her .737 fairways hit percentage ranked fourth on the team. She participated in five tournaments, including the 2019 NCAA Cle Elum (Washington) Regional, and finished with a 77.07 stroke average in 15 rounds as a freshman. She also has extensive international experience as a member of the Austrian National Team in both the European individual and team championships. She tees off at 10:48 a.m. Saturday and 8:48 a.m. Sunday.
Walia returns for her third season at ULM and the fourth of her collegiate career in 2020-21. The Lusaka, Zambia, native was an All-Louisiana Honorable Mention selection by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association for the 2019-20 season. She posted the second-best single-season scoring average (74.87) in school history. Walia led ULM in scoring average (74.87), birdies (39), subpar holes (7), fairways hit (.870), birdie conversation (.223) and greens in regulation (.648). She carded three rounds in the 60s and placed among the Top 5 in three of five tournaments in 2019-20, finishing third at the USA Intercollegiate (5-under 211), fourth at the Wyoming Cowgirl Desert Intercollegiate (10-over 226) and fourth at Maryb S. Kauth Invitational (6-over 222). She tees off at 10:36 a.m. Saturday and 8:36 a.m. Sunday.
Fourdraine makes her collegiate debut at the USA Intercollegiate. The Lachassagne, France, native is the 90th-ranked female amateur golfer in France. She had a 76.5 stroke average and a French handicap of 1.6 in 2019-20. She had nine Top-10 finishes in 17 events in 2019, including four Top-5 performances and one win. She tees off at 10:24 a.m. Saturday and 8:24 a.m. Sunday.
Petersen played in three events in the fall of 2019. The Farum, Denmark, native competed as an individual in last year's USA Intercollegiate, finishing 16-over-par (71-79-82). Her first-round 71 was the second-lowest single round by any Warhawk player last season. She placed 47th at the Wyoming Cowgirl Desert Intercollegiate. She wrapped up the fall by competing as an individual at the Little Rock Golf Classic, placing 62nd at 16-over-par (74-78-75). She tees off at 10:12 a.m. Saturday and 8:12 a.m. Sunday.
White is back for her fifth season at ULM after being granted an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 season of competition waiver. In 2020, the Auckland, New Zealand, native led the team in pars per round (11.2), ranked second in scoring average (76.4) and fairways hit (.710) and finished third with 24 birdies. She posted three Top 25 finishes, with her top performance coming at the Texas State Invitational, where she tied for ninth with a 9-over-par 225 (76-75-74). White carded a season-best 73 in the third round of the Little Rock Classic. She ranks among ULM's all-time leaders in birdies (second with 182) and scoring average (third at 76.23). She has shot par or better in 10 of 104 career rounds. She tees off at 10 a.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday.
Bjornsdottir returns for her third season at ULM and opens the season competing as an individual at the USA Intercollegiate. The Reykjavik, Iceland, native played in five tournaments last season, finishing third on the team with a 77.47 stroke average. She had three Top-30 finishes on the season. Her top finish was at the Texas State Invitational, where she tied for 13th with an 11-over-par 227 (76-78-73). Her lowest score came at the Little Rock Golf Classic, where she tied for 26th with a nine-over-par 225 (75-74-76). She also finished the Maryb S. Kauth Invitational tied for 27th with a 237 (79-80-78). She tees off at 9:36 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
"This will be the debut of coach Lana Hodge with the girls," Baldwin said. "She is also looking forward to the competition to see where the girls measure up."
A link to live scoring is available on the women's golf schedule page at ULMWarhawks.com.
