The Arizona women's golf team has a senior-freshman dynamic going on in the early season.
At this weekend's Mason Rudolph Championship in Nashville, Tenn., the Wildcats comprises three seniors and two freshmen, will compete in a tournament that marks the beginning of the end for the team's veterans and the start of an era for its newcomers.
Though most of the attention from Arizona's 14 opponents will focus on seniors Cassandra Kirkland, Lani Elston-Marshall and Whitney Welch, Arizona head coach Greg Allen said the tournament will be used to see how freshmen Lauren Espinosa and Sommer Scholl perform.
"This event has a good field. There are a lot of good teams," he said. "If we play well, we could get a top-five finish."
ASU, Florida, Georgia, Texas, UCLA, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest highlight the competition for the Wildcats.
"We just need to keep getting better, because spring is when it counts," Allen said.
Redshirt senior Elston-Marshall said she is looking forward to the weekend competition.
"We have some good talent," she said. "Our two freshmen are ready to play and the seniors are excited. We want to go out and kick some butt."
Elston-Marshall said she's looking to land in the top 10 for the event, after finishing 16th last season.
She added that she hopes that the tournament will allow for every member of the team to come together.
"It can help to set the tone for the rest of the season," she said.
The championships will be held at the Vanderbilt Legends Club-Ironhorse Course, a par-72, 7,200-yard course.