KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. --- The Tusculum College Women's golf team will open the spring portion of its 2007-08 schedule this weekend when they host the sixth annual Tusculum/Kiawah Island Intercollegiate. The first round will begin this Saturday morning at 8 a.m. at Cougar Point Golf Club in Kiawah Island, S.C.

This year's 18-team tournament will once again provide a strong field that includes schools that have won the last eight NCAA Division II national championships. The field features five teams ranked in the top 10 of the latest Golf World/National Golf Coaches Association's Division II Poll, including top ranked Florida Southern. The defending NCAA II National Champions will be making their second trip to the Intercollegiate. Florida Southern boasts four national championships (2000, 2001, 2002, 2007).

Rollins, the No. 2 team in the country, has won the national championship in four of the last five years (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006). The Tars are also the defending Intercollegiate champion as they edged Florida Southern in a playoff for the 2007 title.

The field also includes No. 7 Lynn, No. 8 Nova Southeastern and No. 10 West Florida.

The host Pioneers finished in the top half of the field in all four fall tournaments, including a runner-up showing at the Anderson Invitational.

Sophomore Mary Ann Vizcarrondo leads the Pioneers shooting a blistering 80 strokes per round. She has been Tusculum's top performer in each fall event, including four top 15 showings. Rookie Emily Palenkas is second with her 83.50 scoring average. Palenkas has finished in the top 25 in all four tournaments, including a pair of 12th showings at Anderson and the Tusculum Fall Classic.

Mandy Hartsock is third with her 84.37 scoring average, followed by Susanne Sisco (84.50), Amber Ladner (85.00), Hayley Johnson (85.30) and Adriana Vizcarrondo (87.60).

The second round of the tournament will be held Sunday beginning at 8 a.m. on the par 72, 5,800-yard layout.

Tusculum College, located in Greeneville, Tenn., is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA and is a NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic Conference which is comprised of nine colleges and universities in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.