BROOKSVILLE, Fla. – The Shocker women's golf team will end the spring season in the American Athletic Conference Championship, beginning on April 15 at Southern Hills Plantation Club.
 
The Shockers are looking to improve from a tenth-place finish in the championship last season and it's the second straight year the tournament is being played at Southern Hills .
 
Head Coach Tom McCurdy is glad his team will get another crack at this course this year.
 
"I'm excited to play at this site again. I think it's a very scoreable course," said McCurdy. "The five players that we have going down there have the game to do well at Southern Hills."
 
McCurdy is also excited that the team's underclassmen will get a chance to see the course and use this year's tournament experience in future seasons. The Shockers have three sophomores and one redshirt freshman making the trip to Florida, along with graduating senior, Madison Slayton.
 
"I like that we have youth playing at this tournament that's got some talent," said McCurdy. "It'll be good for them use this experience in future years as well."
 
Overall, Coach McCurdy is looking forward to the Championship and is excited to see his team compete.
 
"Going into the Championship, you can't always go in focusing on just winning, but just doing what you need to prepare and give yourself the best chance for being in a situatuion to win," said McCurdy. "I'm looking to forward to seeing how well the team can do.".
 
The best finish for the Shockers in the Championship came in 2018, when the Shockers finished fifth as a team and former Shocker Taryn Torgerson won the individual title in dramatic fashion.
 
Fast Facts – 2024 American Athletic Conference Championship
Dates: Monday-Wednesday, Apr. 15-17, 2024
Host: American Athletic Conference and South Florida
Location: Brooksville, Fla. (Southern Hills Plantation Club)
Yardage: 6,289 yards
Par: 72
Format: 54 Holes, 18 each day
Live Scoring: Golfstat
The Field – 12 Teams: Seed, Clippd Ranking, School.

1. #27 SMU
2. #35 South Florida
3. #46 North Texas
4. #53 Tulsa
5. #66 UTSA
6. #87 East Carolina
7. #127 Florida Atlantic
8. #133 Tulane
9. #141 Charlotte
10. #148 Memphis
11. #159 UAB
12. #182 Wichita State

Championship Five:
Kate Tilma (So.) – Transfer from Kansas State…Competed in all eight regular season tournaments...Posted the Shocker's only top-5 individual finish of the fall at Payne Stewart Memorial...Team leader in birdies with 60...One of three Shockers to post multiple top-20 finishes in the fall…Finished t-5th at the Rio Verde Invitational on February 25.

Lauren Thiele (R-Fr.) – Appearing in seventh tournament this season…Competed in two of four fall tournaments and all four spring tournaments...Set personal season low 18-hole score of 73 at the Rio Verde Invitational on Feb. 25...Highest finish is t-15th at the Big O Classic on Oct. 3.

Mackenzie Wilson (So.) -- Second year Shocker playing in ninth tournament of the season… Competed in all regular season tournaments as a sophomore...Led team in stroke average (73.2) and birdies (34) in the fall...Recorded lowest 18-hole score (68) and 54-hole score (212) of any Shocker in the fall, also setting new career lows...Her 212 54-hole score at Diamante was the second lowest in team history.

Madison Slayton (Sr.) -- Playing in 20th tournament as a Shocker… Set career lows for 18-hole and 54-hole scores in final fall tournament at Diamante Intercollegiate...Recorded first eagle of the season at Diamante Intercollegiate.
 
Brooklyn Benn (So.) -- Appearing in the lineup for the fifth time this season and competing in sixth tournament…Posted season best 18-hole score of 74 in round two of Diamante Intercollegiate on October 23.
 
Coach McCurdy on…
 
…Kate Tilma:
"Kate has the ability to turn some par fives into par fours because of how long she can hit the ball. She also can carry some of the fairway bunkers that 90% of the tournament field is not going to be able to do. She's going to have a great advantage in that area and she's a great putter as well."

…Lauren Thiele
"Lauren has made some adjustments to her golf game after playing in her first collegiate tournament earlier this year. She's a great ball-striker, very disciplined, and she's a great competitor."
 
…Mackenzie Wilson:
"Mackenzie has such a great driver. She can work the ball both ways, has very good distance control with her irons, and she has a great competitive fire. I think she has the capability and potential to have a big breakthrough sometime soon."

…Brooklyn Benn:
"Brooklyn has been working very hard and hitting the ball a lot better. She's playing with great confidence. I'm very excited that she's going to this golf course since she's seen it before and knows what to expect."
 
…Madison Slayton
"I've seen some really good things out of Madison so far this spring in qualifying. I'm really excited to see her play this golf course. I think she could do really well down here."