Feb. 23, 2006

FORT WORTH, Texas -- The TCU women's golf team opens its 2006 spring season Friday at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.

The 54-hole tournament will run through Sunday on the par 72, 6,000-yard Cocoa Beach Golf Course.

The 16-team field also includes Arkansas, East Tennessee State, Florida, Indiana, Iowa State, Kent State, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Purdue, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Tulsa and Wisconsin.

"We're real excited to get started," TCU coach Angie Ravaioli-Larkin said. "We'll be playing in a very strong field which is what we want."

The Horned Frogs also opened the 2005 spring season at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic, placing second behind Auburn. Individually, Camille Blackerby tied for second with a 54-hole 221 (+5).

Blackerby will compete in this weekend's tournament along with TCU teammates Catherine Matranga, Elin Emanuelsson, Carrie Morris and Elisa Gomez.

TCU's fall season was highlighted by a 21-stroke victory at Kansas State's Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational. The Frogs, ranked 48th nationally, were also third at the Lady Paladin Invitational in Greenville, S.C.

"Our players have had a great work ethic and set some high goals for themselves this spring," Ravaioli-Larkin said. "Our practices have never been better. We're looking forward to having fun and playing some great golf."

Blackerby was TCU's top finisher in three of five fall tournaments as she carded a team-best 74.3 stroke average. Matranga and Emanuelsson both had 75.2 marks.

Blackerby and Matranga were All-Conference USA selections last season, while Gomez was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team. TCU is now in its first season of Mountain West Conference play. Blackerby was also a 2004-05 Academic All-American.

Following the Lady Puerto Rico Classic, TCU will next compete March 10-12 at Texas A&M's "Mo"Morial in College Station.