Oct. 10, 2009

The 54-hole tournament will feature 18 holes each day, beginning with the first round Monday at 9:30 a.m. CST at the par-72, 6,193-yard NMSU Golf Course. Tuesday's second round will tee off at 9:30 a.m. CST, followed by the final round Wednesday at 9 a.m. CST.

The 18-team tournament field includes host New Mexico State, UC Irvine, Mississippi State, Fresno State, Idaho, Boise State, Arizona, Oregon State, Colorado State, Nevada, North Texas, San Diego State, UTEP, Northern Arizona and Portland State, as well as Big 12 rivals Kansas and Kansas State.

This year marks Baylor's 14th trip in 16 seasons to the New Mexico State-hosted event under head coach Sylvia Ferdon. The Lady Bears won the Price's "Give `Em Five" in 2001 and 2002. Last season, Baylor finished second behind 2008 champion UC Irvine.

"My notebook from the NMSU Golf Course is well worn and I believe it is an advantage," Ferdon said, "to feel comfortable on a course on which you are going to compete.

"We've had a two-week break, but it was needed," Ferdon said. "We learned a lot playing with preseason top-10 Denver at the Ron Moore Women's Intercollegiate."

For the second consecutive tournament, the Lady Bears, which are ranked No. 38 in the latest Golfstat standings, will be led by senior Hannah Burke, juniors Lene Hafsten-Morch and Morgan Chambers, along with sophomores Jaclyn Jansen and Chelsey Cothran. Through six rounds, Burke leads all Lady Bears with a 72.33 stroke average. Jansen and Hafsten-Morch are second with a 74.33 stroke average. Burke and Jansen have combined six of Baylor's seven rounds of par or better in its first two tournaments.

"We've had time to look at our strengths and reinforce them," Ferdon said. "We've also had the time to admit our weaknesses and get down to business doing something about them for our confidence."

Following Baylor's trip to Price's "Give `Em Five" Intercollegiate, the Lady Bears will travel to San Antonio for The Alamo Invitational Oct. 26-27.