The Kent State women's golf team returns to the Sunshine State this weekend to participate in the SunTrust Gator Women's Golf Tournament, hosted by the University of Florida at Mark Bostick Golf Course.

The 54-hole event begins Sunday, March 6 with 36 holes of action starting at 8 a.m. Monday's final round will begin with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start.

The Mark Bostick Golf Course is a par-70, 6,074-yard test for the 17-team field. Par is 35 out, 35 in with just three par-5s (No. 3, No. 7, No. 12).

Live stats will be available through Golf Stat.

Kent State makes their first return to the SunTrust Gator Women's Golf Tournament since their ninth-place finish in 2007. That was the lone previous appearance for the Flashes at the University of Florida's spring event.

Scouting the Flashes

Kent State was unable to carry over its success from Monday's second round into the final day of the Central District Invitational Feb. 22, as the Golden Flashes finished eighth in the 15-team field after posting a 301 during the final round.

Junior Mercedes Germino (Necochea, Argentina) finished in a two-player tie for fifth place, as four bogeys over her final six holes prevented her from posting a below-par round. Germino finished with a three-over 75 Feb. 22 for a one-over 217 for the three-round tournament.

Six Kent State golfers will travel to Florida for this weekend's event. Joining Germino on the team competition squad are seniors Sarah Bradley (Cambridge, New Zealand) and Martina Gavier (Cordoba, Argentina) with junior Shamira Marshall (Macedonia, Ohio) and freshman Erin Hawe (Walton, New Zealand) rounding out the team. Junior Mandi Morrow (Kent, Ohio) will compete as an unattached individual.

Scouting the Tournament Field

Kent State is one of 17 teams competing in the SunTrust Gator Women's Golf Invitational. Joining the Flashes and the host Gators are Arkansas, Augusta State, UCF, Coastal Carolina, Colorado, Florida State, Georgia State, Iowa State, James Madison, Missouri, UNC-Greensboro, Ohio State, Stetson UT-Chattanooga and Texas Tech.

Of the field, Kent State (34^th) is one of 10 teams ranked in the top 50 nationally in the tournament field and one of 14 in the top 100. Iowa State (16^th) and Arkansas (17^th) are the highest ranked teams in the field, according to Golf Week.

While the 2010 team champion Michigan State will not be there to defend their title, Chattanooga senior Emma de Groot aims to defend her title from last year. de Groot fired a two-over 212 last season to capture medalist accolades.

Next Up

The Golden Flashes will take on Baylor Tuesday, March 22 in a team dual in Waco, Texas.