May 8, 2012

OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss women’s golf team will begin NCAA postseason play on Thursday when the Rebels tee off in the NCAA Central Regional in Columbus, Ohio.  

The Central Regional, hosted by Ohio State University, will be held May 10-12 at the school’s par-71 Scarlet Course.

The Rebels, making their fourth-consecutive NCAA Regionals appearance, will be among a field of 24 teams—eight of which will advance to the NCAA Championships in Nashville, Tenn., May 22-25.

There will also be six individuals competing in the Central Regional.  In addition to the eight teams that advance to the NCAA Championships, two individuals who are not on one of those teams will also advance.

The Central Regional field includes seven SEC teams, in conference champion No. 4 Auburn, No. 9 Georgia, No. 10 Vanderbilt, No. 15 Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky and Ole Miss.  

In addition to the four top-25 SEC teams, four other ranked teams will participate in the Central Regional:  No. 3 Southern California, No. 16 Ohio State, No. 21 Oregon and No. 22 North Carolina State.

“Having a junior and senior-led team has really helped this year, and I feel we are better prepared,” said Ole Miss head coach Michele Drinkard.  “They have an excellent attitude and are ready to play. We are looking forward to the challenge and the competition.”

The Rebels are led by senior Natalie Gleadall, who carries a 75.30 stroke average.  Making her third appearance in a regional, Gleadall has earned five career top-five finishes—two this season, highlighted by a second-place finish at the Golfweek Conference Challenge.  Gleadall earned a top-20 finish in last year’s East Regional in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Haley Sanders follows with a 75.44 stroke average.  The junior will be making her second regional appearance, with her first coming as a freshman in 2010.  This season, Sanders has earned three top-20 finishes.

Haley Millsap, who has a top-five finish and three top-20’s to her credit this year, will be competing in her fourth regional.  Millsap currently holds a 76.33 average for the season, which was highlighted by a fourth-place finish at the Anuenue Spring Break Classic in March.

Junior Ericka Schneider (76.33 stroke average) and freshman Taelor Rubin (79.10 stroke average) round out the lineup for the Rebels. Schneider has picked up her play at the end of the year, earning a pair of top-20’s in the last three tournaments.  Rubin is coming off of her two best tournaments of the season.

You can follow the Rebels via live scoring at www.OleMissSports.com.  You can also follow the Rebels on twitter at @OleMissWGolf and on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/OleMissWGolf.