FROM STAFF REPORTS

The Alabama Sports Foundation, in conjunction with the Southeastern Conference, announced Aug. 8 that Greystone Golf and Country Club in Hoover will be host to the  SEC Women’s Golf Championship tournament from 2013-2016.

“We are proud to host the SEC Women’s Golf Championship,” stated Calvin Bolling, General Manager of Greystone Golf and Country Club, in a press release. “Greystone’s rich tradition in golf includes hosting 15 Champions Tour events, as well as annually hosting for the past 20 years one of the top 20 amateur tournaments in the country, The Greystone Invitational. Our goal is to provide a formidable challenge to the best collegiate women in the country, while sharing a taste of our Southern hospitality. We invite golf fans from the SEC region to Greystone to enjoy the spirit of competition and camaraderie, while viewing a showcase of the SEC Women’s Golf Championship. We are excited to share in the history of this prestigious event.”

The championship will consist of 14 teams competing in three rounds of tournament play. This will be only the second time that the Birmingham-Hoover metropolitan area has hosted the SEC Women’s Golf Championship since it began in 1981.

“The Alabama Sports Foundation is proud to host another SEC Championship in Hoover,” stated Gene Hallman, Executive Director of the Alabama Sports Foundation, in a press release. “We value our outstanding partnership with the conference and are pleased to have this opportunity. Our organization is very familiar with the quality of SEC women’s golf given our background in managing numerous women’s professional golf tournaments. The number of SEC women alumnae playing at the elite professional level is truly amazing. Additionally, Greystone Golf and Country Club is an outstanding facility and will be a tremendous host.

The SEC has a strong history in women’s collegiate golf, with four NCAA National Championships. SEC teams have finished in the top 10 every year except two since 1983, and have had six NCAA individual champions. The University of Georgia still holds the record of total SEC Championships won with 11, but Auburn Univesity follows close behind with nine wins, including both 2011 and 2012.

“We are excited about our women’s golf championship coming to Greystone Golf and Country Club, while also expanding our relationship with the City of Hoover with another quality SEC event,” SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said in a press release. “Hoover’s dedication to the conference, along with the expertise the Alabama Sports Foundation has in running high-level golf events, will certainly give SEC teams and fans a great postseason experience.”