The Arizona women's golf team will tee up as the host of a tournament today for the only time this season.
The fourth-ranked Wildcats will be competing in their second tournament of the spring this week at their home course, the Arizona National Golf Club. Head coach Greg Allen said everyone is pretty excited.
"I'm more fired up about this (tournament) than any other one this year," Allen said.
The Wildcat Invitational will play host to six teams in the top 25 coaches' poll, including UCLA (2), California (5) and Vanderbilt (9).
"We have a great field even though it is not as strong as past years," Allen said.
The Wildcats' last trip out on the links wasn't very successful, as they finished fourth in the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge.
The Palos Verdes, Calif., tournament was a rough start for the team, but was monumental for sophomore phenom Erica Blasberg, who finished out of the individual top 10 for only the second time as a collegiate golfer.
"In Palos Verdes, I couldn't get the ball in the hole," Blasberg said. "So these past two weeks I've been working really hard on my putting and going into this week, I feel really strong about my short game."
Blasberg's tie for 11th place seemed like a wake-up call for Blasberg. Allen said the Corona, Calif., native has been working hard the past two weeks.
"Erica has been working really hard on her putting," Allen said. "(The team) didn't hit the ball that bad in L.A., it was just a matter of not knowing the course and not getting the ball up and down."
Both problems shouldn't be of hindrance this week, as the Wildcats play a course they see most of the year.
Last year, Blasberg ran away from the field, grabbing medallist honors on her way to a 3-under-par 210.
But that was the only glimmer of light for the Wildcats, as the team finished in a disappointing ninth place.
"This is our only time to play in front of the home fans, and we have something to prove after last year," Allen said.
Arizona will be going out this week with a lineup that coach Allen has never used before. The starting five include Rachel Gavin, a redshirt freshman who has yet to play in a collegiate event.
Even with her lack of experience, Blasberg said Gavin has worked hard enough to merit a spot in the starting rotation.
"She has deserved and earned the spot," Blasberg said. "Even though she is a little inexperienced, I don't think that the nerves will get to her."
Gavin will play alongside Blasberg and sophomores Cassandra Kirkland, Lani Elston and Whitney Welch.
Kirkland, who finished just two shots back of Blasberg in the last tournament, has continued her success this year and is a player who could keep the medallist trophy in Tucson for another year.
"I think Cassandra is going to give it everything she's got," Allen said.