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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Shauna Estes-Taylor and her University of Arkansas women’s golf team open the 2016-17 season ranked No. 10 in the Golfweek.com preseason poll.
Estes-Taylor and the Razorbacks finished tied for 12th at the NCAA Championship last year, and start this season a little higher in the polls. Golfweek’s Lance Ringler also ranked Razorback sophomore All-American Maria Fassi at No. 9 in his preseason top 30 players list.
Fassi joined the team in January after graduating early. She filled the gap left by Gabriela Lopez who earned her LPGA Tour card and turned professional in December 2015.
Fassi returns leading a talented corps of players for Arkansas. Seniors Summar Roachell and Samantha Marks, along with juniors Alana Uriell and Jordy LaBarbera are also slated to compete with the team this year. Sophomore Cara Gorlei – along with Fassi, Rocell and Uriell - rounds out the returning members of the team who were vital parts of last year’s NCAA Championship run.
The Razorbacks welcome sophomore transfer Kaylee Benton, last season’s Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year. Benton was born in Conway, moved with her family to Arizona and attended UNLV last season.
The Golfweek.com Top 10 is loaded with teams from the Southeastern Conference. Estes-Taylor’s alma mater, Georgia, checks in at No. 3, followed by No. 6 Alabama and No. 7 Florida.
The Razorbacks open the year at the invitation-only ANNIKA Intercollegiate in Orlando, Florida, on Sept. 25-27.
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