NEW YORK --- The Tusculum College women's golf team is receiving votes in the final Golf World/National Golf Coaches Association Division II Coaches' Poll of the fall. The Pioneers have received 10 points after finishing in the top half in each of their five tournaments so far this season.

Tusculum finished in the top three of its first three events, including tournament title honors at the Women's Independent Collegiate at the Etowah Valley Golf Club, the host site of the 2010 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Championship.

TC earned runner-up honors at the Anderson University Invitational, while placing third at the Maryville College Invitational to open the fall campaign.

Grand Valley State is the top ranked team in the fall's final poll with 230 points, just Nova Southeastern who received 229 points, including four first place votes. Florida Southern is third, followed by Rollins, Indianapolis, Barry, Newberry, Ashland, Tarleton State, Lynn, St. Edward's, Nebraska-Omaha, Drury, Western Washington, Angelo State, Southern Indiana, CSU-Monterey Bay, California (Pa.), Saint Leo, West Florida, Sonoma State, Grand Valley State, Ferris State, Central Oklahoma and Catawba.

Leading the charge for Tusculum is freshman Jillian Corum, who has recorded an 80.56 scoring average, while capturing medalist honors at the Women's Independent Collegiate in September. Sophomore Katie Doane is second on the team with her 80.89 stroke average, including her runner-up showing at the Anderson Invitational.

Two-time All-South Atlantic Conference First Team senior Mary Ann Vizcarrondo is third on the squad with an 81.00 stroke average, while finishing in the top 20 of all four of her fall tournaments, including a pair of top 10 performances. Junior Emily Palenkas is fourth at 82.88, followed by Aly Pugh (83.00), Haley Rye (83.86) and Adriana Vizcarrondo (87.00).

The Pioneers will open the spring season Feb. 6-7 as they host the Tusculum/Kiawah Island Intercollegiate. Seventeen (17) teams will join the Pioneers at Kiawah Island, S.C. in one of the most competitive DII Women's Tournaments in the nation. Six of the top 25 teams are slated to participate in this year's event, including five of the top 10 programs listed in the current Golf World/NGCA Poll.

- TC -

Golf World/NGCA Division II Women's Poll
Rk. Team Pts. Prv.
1 Grand Valley State (2) 230 3
2 Nova Southeastern (4) 229 1
3 Florida Southern 223 4
4 Rollins (3) 212 2
5 Indianapolis 201 6
6 Barry 184 5
7 Newberry 168 9
8 Ashland (1) 161 7
9 Tarleton State 151 8
10 Lynn 131 11
11 St. Edward's 129 13
12 Nebraska-Omaha 128 10
13 Drury 103 12
14 Western Washington 90 16
15 Angelo State 89 22
16 Southern Indiana 83 14
17 CSU-Monterey Bay 81 T19
18 California (Pa.) 79 15
Saint Leo 79 23
20 West Florida 75 17
21 Sonoma State 69 T19
22 Grand Canyon 54 NR
23 Ferris State 46 21
24 Central Oklahoma 43 24
25 Catawba 29 18

Others Receiving Votes: Augustana 27, Concordia (Minn.) 24, UNC Pembroke 24, Minnesota State 18, Upper Iowa 16, Northern Kentucky 14, TUSCULUM 10, Northeastern State 8, Flagler 6, Winona State 6, Cameron 5, Chico State 4, Dallas Baptist 4, Montevallo 4, Western New Mexico 4, Findlay 3, St. Martins 3, Lincoln 2, Lincoln Memorial 1.