Women's golf to host 2008 PING/ASU Invitational

The third-ranked Arizona State University women's golf team hosts the 2008 PING/ASU Invitational at the par-72, 6,230-yard ASU Karsten Golf Course April 4-6.

The 17-team field for the tournament features 13 teams ranked in the top-25 in the most recent Golf World/NGCA Coaches Poll and three of the top-four teams in the nation. Competing in the tournament are: No. 6 Arizona, No. 3 Arizona State (host), No. 14 California, No. 15 Denver, No. 11 Georgia, No. 25 New Mexico, Oregon State, No. 9 Oklahoma State, No. 15 Pepperdine, San Francisco, San Jose St., No. 20 Stanford, No. 24 Texas A&M, No. 2 UCLA, No. 4 USC, No. 22 Vanderbilt, and Washington.

The line-up for Arizona State includes: junior All-American Azahara Munoz, sophomore All-American Anna Nordqvist, sophomore Juliana Murcia, junior All-American Jennifer Osborn, and senior Camila Sola. Graduate Brooke Todare and sophomore Liisa Kelo will be playing as individuals.

The Sun Devils will look to repeat the success they achieved last year at the PING/ASU Invitational. ASU won the tournament commandingly, besting second place UCLA by 22 strokes and finishing with a tournament-record low 13-under par.

Nordqvist, then a freshman, finished in first place last year with a three-round total of 10-under 206 (69-68-69). Nordqvist broke the PING/ASU tournament record of 209 held by LPGA golfers Lorena Ochoa, Arizona 2002, and Charlotte Mayorkas, UCLA 2003. With the win, Nordqvist also carded her first collegiate victory.

Leading the Sun Devils' line-up, Munoz has been playing the best golf of her collegiate career. Munoz has finished in the top-10 six out of her seven tournament appearances, including four top-five finishes. Munoz was also named to Golf World Magazine's Mid-Season All-American team, along with Nordqvist, and was named "The Best Player You've Maybe Never Heard Of". Arizona State and UCLA were the only schools with two golfers represented on the Mid-Season All-American team.

Arizona State carded one tournament victory this season at the Stanford Intercollegiate and looks to add another win this weekend. ASU came from behind to win the 2007 Stanford Intercollegiate shooting a 10-over 862 (293-293-276) for the three-round tournament. With a third round score of 8-under 276, the Sun Devils erased their second round deficit of 12 strokes to beat second-place Duke by four shots. ASU topped a talented field which included then No. 1 UCLA and No. 2 Duke.

Live Scoring will be available at the 2008 PING/ASU Invitational.

Admission is free to the public.