ASU women taste first NCAA action today at Daytona Beach, Fla.

The Alabama State women's golf team is one of 72 teams competing in three NCAA regionals throughout the country today. And while teams such as Alabama, UCLA and Southern California dream of winning a national championship, the local golfers are happy making history with their first NCAA appearance.

"I saw the list of the schools that are going to regionals and they are the top schools in the NCAA," Alabama State freshman Amelie Buhl said. "I think it's a great opportunity for us to play in the same group. They're really good schools. I don't have any expectations for us. We've already achieved our goal."

A team comprised largely of first- and second-year players earned a bid to an NCAA regional by capturing the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship in Louisiana in mid-April. A week later, the Hornets made history again by winning the National Women's Collegiate Golf Championship...

Hornet Golf Teams in National Tournaments This Week

The Alabama State women's and men's golf teams will compete for national championships this week, both in the state of Florida.

The 2011 SWAC Women's Golf Champion Lady Hornets will make their first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament and will play in the East Regional in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The men's team, runners-up in the SWAC Tournament for the third straight year, will compete in the 25th annual PGA Minority Golf Championship in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

“It's time to just relax and play in control,” head coach Gary Grandison said. “We'll strive to represent the school well, and represent the community well.”

The women's golf team will be one of 24 teams in the East Regional. The LPGA International's Legends Course (par 72, 6,271 yards) will challenge the teams in the three-day, 54-hole tournament.

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Women in Sports: International duo boost ASU golf

ASU Golf Coach Dr. Gary Grandison

Montgomery, AL - Amelie Buhl and Aileen Meredith are part of something special, something they never would have envisioned five years ago.

Both are major components in Alabama State's Southwestern Athletic Conference championship women's golf team, international players leading the surge at an HBCU (Historically black colleges and universities) program.

"It's a big change compared to where I'm from," said Meredith, a sophomore from Apia, Samoa. "At first, I wasn't expecting it to be an all-black school but after the first semester my freshman year, I adapted well. At first, everything was hard and difficult but now it's nothing to me. I'm used to it. I'm enjoying myself here."

ASU golf program soaring under Grandison

What a week for the Alabama State women's golf team. And what a week for their coach, Gary Grandison. Thanks to my good friend, Pete Cobb, and the folks at Montgomery Country Club, I've been paying close attention to the job Grandison's been doing at ASU for a couple of years now. Starting out with very little, he's produced a lot, and last week brought the best production of all.

On Tuesday, the ASU women won the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament for the first time. That's as in, ever. But the Lady Hornets weren't finished.

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ASU Lady Hornets win Women's Collegiate Championship

STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. – The 2011 SWAC Women's Golf Champion Alabama State Lady Hornets added another title to the mantle Sunday, winning the 17th National Women's Collegiate Golf Classic at Stone Mountain Golf Course.

The Lady Hornets finished with a 671 score in the 36-hole event, holding off a strong charge from second place South Carolina State (678). Hampton University (690) finished third.

ASU shot 344 on Sunday, not as strong as they did Saturday, while S.C. State improved by 24 strokes. However, it was not enough to take the title away from the Lady Hornets.

“I'm relieved” said Hornets' Gary Grandison said of winning the event for the first time. “It was definitely a tough round on a tough course. We struggled. We had a lot of bad breaks today. One of our players (Aileen Meredith) had five birdies and still shot in the 80s.”

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Lady Hornets bring home SWAC Golf Championship

ALEXANDRIA, LA - It came down to the last two scorecards of the tournament one from Alabama State's Amelie Buhl and one from Jackson State, but it was Buhl's final round 75 on the final card of the day gave the Lady Hornets the Southwestern Athletic Conference Women's Golf Championship. ASU's two-day total of 654 defeated last year's champion Jackson State University by only six shots (660).

It was a day where all of the teams struggled with wind gusts that reached 40 mph over the course of the day, and Buhl was able to shoot an even-par 36 on the back nine. She was the only golfer able to shoot even-par over the final nine holes of the championship which showed how well she played. Buhl shot a 77 on the first day of the championship and finished the championship with a 152 which earned her the low-medalist honor, as well as being the low freshman medalist. She was also named First-Team All-SWAC.

 2011 SWAC Women's Golf Championship -- FINAL RESULTS

Photo Gallery

Individual Honors

Coach of the Year: Gary Grandison, Alabama State

Medalist and Low Freshman Medalist: Amelie Buhl, Alabama State

First-team All-SWAC: Amelie Buhl, ALST; Aileen Meredith, ALST; Erica Payton, JKST; Jennifer Sells, JKST; Cami Stith, JKST

Second-team All-SWAC: Shanequa Valentine, PVAM; Peni Sanjoto, PVAM; Danielle Robinson, ALST; Tyler Lawrence, TXSO; Jessica Williams, ALST

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