INDIANAPOLIS --- For the first time in school history, the Tusculum College women's golf team will be competing for a NCAA Division II national championship. The Pioneers will be one of nine teams playing in the DII South Super Regional this weekend (May 6-8) at Stonebrook Golf Club in Pace Fla.

The 54-hole Super Regional includes: Tusculum, Barry, Florida Southern, Lynn, Newberry, UNC Pembroke, Nova Southeastern, Rollins and Saint Leo. Four individual competitors have also qualified for this weekend's event, including: Jenna Birch (Armstrong), Kimesha Anthony (Columbus State), Valentina Urquiola (Mount Olive) and Erica Ray (Carson-Newman). The South Region includes teams from the South Atlantic Conference, Conference Carolinas, Gulf South Conference, Peach Belt Conference and the Sunshine State Conference.

The three low teams from each super regional, as well as the low three individuals not on the teams advancing, will compete at the NCAA Division II National Championship in Louisville, Ky. on May 16-19 at Persimmon Ridge Golf Club.

Tusculum head coach Bob Dibble is in his 15th season at the helm of the women's program (and 23rd as men's coach). Dibble has guided the Pioneers to one of its most successful seasons in school history. Tusculum has finished fifth or better in nine of its 10 events this year, including wins at the Anderson Invitational and the Agnes McAmis Memorial. TC also finished runner-up at the Myrtle Beach Intercollegiate and third at the Tusculum Fall Classic, Patsy Rendleman Invitational and the South Atlantic Conference Championship. For his efforts, Dibble was named the SAC Coach of the Year, earning the honor for a second time (2000, 2012).

Leading the charge for the Pioneers is freshman sensation Emee Herbert. The Johns Creek, Ga. product has a scoring average of 77.00, which is on pace to be the lowest in school history and currently the second best in the league. The 2012 SAC Freshman of the Year has finished in the top 20 in nine events this year, including seven top-10 showings and four in the top five. The All-SAC First Team honoree finished runner-up in her collegiate debut at the Anderson Invitational. She followed with another second place finish at the Myrtle Beach Intercollegiate and third at the Flagler Fall Slam. Herbert accounted for another third place finish at the SAC Championship, carding a school 54-hole record 229 to earn a spot on the SAC All-Tournament Team.

Junior Jillian Corum is accounting for another stellar season, finishing in the top 20 on eight occasions with her 77.76 stroke average. That average is the second lowest in school history and third in the conference. Corum's six top-10 performances, includes earning medalist honors at the McAmis Memorial as she fired a school record 70-71=141 (-3). The Knoxville, Tenn. native posted back-to-back sixth place finishes at the Kiawah Island Intercollegiate and the Lady Cougar Collegiate Classic. She also finished eighth at the SAC Championship, earning her a spot on the SAC All-Tournament Team for a second straight year. Her 80.38 career stroke average is the lowest in school history (min. 2000 strokes), while her four medalist wins are a TC-best.

Senior Aly Pugh has saved her best collegiate season for last with her 81.14 scoring average, which is the seventh lowest in TC history. Pugh has posted four top 20 finishes, including medalist honors at the Anderson Invitational. The Harrisburg, Pa. native is sixth all-time with her 83.89 scoring average in her 55 career rounds with the Pioneers.

Sophomore Sara Howard is fourth on the team with her 81.33 scoring average, which includes four top-20 finishes. The Knoxville, Tenn. product currently has the second lowest career stroke average in school history at 81.78.

Senior Katie Doane rounds out the line-up with her 82.86 scoring average, including four top-20 outings, including an eighth place finish at the Anderson Invitational. Doane, a native of Sevierville, Tenn., has the eighth-best scoring average in school history at 85.46.

Stonebrook has hosted numerous college golf tournaments, including the NCAA regional championships in 2004 and 2006 and the Division II women's golf national championship in 2007. Not only is Stonebrook one of the premier courses in the Florida panhandle, but it is also a hometown course for 2012 Masters champion Bubba Watson and PGA star Boo Weekley.

- NCAA -