Lehigh set to host Lehigh Invitational this weekend at SVCC
Posted: 10/18/2012 | Last updated: November 5, 2012 at 06:54 PM
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh women’s golf team concludes its fall season this weekend as the Mountain Hawks host the Lehigh Invitational at Saucon Valley Country Club. Eight teams will compete on Saucon Valley’s Grace Course with Georgetown, Princeton, Rutgers, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Siena and Yale joining the Mountain Hawks for the two-day, 36-hole event.
Saucon Valley Country Club, founded in 1920, has grown from 18 holes and a clubhouse to become one of the largest private clubs in North America. It encompasses 800 acres and consists of four courses, including the Weyhill Course, Old Course, Grace Course and Short Course. The Grace Course opened with nine holes in the fall of 1953 with the second nine opened for play in 1958. Named for Eugene Gifford Grace (Lehigh Class of 1899), longtime president and chairman of Bethlehem Steel, the Grace Course measures 7,051 yards from the championship tees and features greens nearly twice the size of those on the Old Course but without the severe contours.
The Mountain Hawks were last in action at the Rutgers Invitational, October 5-6 where they finished ninth out of 21 teams. Lehigh also finished sixth at the Bucknell Invitational and 12th at the Yale Invitational. The Mountain Hawks have had good balance in their lineup with different players seemingly leading the way in each tournament. Junior Crystal Lee led Lehigh at the Bucknell Invitational, while senior captains Chelsea Michalek and Ginette Schapira paced the Mountain Hawks at Yale. Schapira and freshmen Tess Jennings and Nicole Feierberg were Lehigh’s top finishers among scoring players at Rutgers, while sophomore Kelly Moylan had a strong showing competing as an individual, as she tied for 16th overall.
Last year Lehigh finished fourth in an eight team field, with Lee the top finisher.
This weekend, Lehigh’s official team of scoring players will consist of Schapira, Michalek, Moylan, Lee and Feierberg, while senior Natalie Lansing, junior Elle Sander, sophomores Melanie Dickens and Alyssa Scheyd and Jennings will compete as individuals.
Action at the Lehigh Invitational begins Saturday at 9:30 a.m. with the first 18 holes from the Grace Course at Saucon Valley Country Club. Sunday’s final round features a shotgun start with play also beginning at 9:30 a.m.