RADFORD, Va. – The Radford women's golf team will hit the links for the first time in 2011-12 when they compete in the Bison Invitational Sept. 11-12, played at the Bucknell University Golf Club in Lewisburg, Pa.

At this event a year ago, Radford came in 6th out of 17 teams and had two returning players, Paige Reese (South Hill, Va./Park View) and Jade Okamoto (Huntington Beach, Calif./Marina), place in the top-15 individually.  

In his fourth year at the helm, head coach Jeff Beeler expects his team to surpass the many accomplishments of 2010-11.  His Highlanders captured the second team title in program history at the Winthrop University Invitational and recorded a runner-up finish at the Great Smokies Women's Intercollegiate.  Beeler's club also set new 18 (285) and 36-hole (586) records.

Despite losing two-time all-conference performer Hannah Coles to graduation, the Highlanders return four of five regular starters from last year's team in seniors Amy McCollum (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford) and Okamoto, and sophomores Kirsty Condon (Lincolnshire, England/Kesteven and Sleaford) and Reese.  All four played in all nine tournaments a year ago.

In addition to leading Radford in stroke average (78.3), Okamoto posted a career-best runner-up showing at Winthrop at six-over 150 and matched a career-low 73 in the first round.  

McCollum will join Okamoto in providing senior leadership.  McCollum carded a season-low 77 at the Big South Championship and sat tied for 10th following day one.  

Reese had a busy summer, making it to the round of 16 in the VSGA Women's Amateur Championship.  Last year, she tallied the low round of the year for Radford with a second-round 69 in the season-opening Great Smokies Women's Intercollegiate.  

Condon also made an impact oversees this summer, finishing 29th in the prestigious English Women's Amateur Championship.  Much like Reese, Condon shot her season-low during the school year in the second round of the Great Smokies with a 73.

The Highlanders also return Sophia Montenegro who played in one tournament last year.  Joining the program as the only newcomer will be Alexandra Austin (Burke, Va./Robinson Secondary), who was Virginia's third-ranked golfer as a senior at Robinson Secondary.