The Ball State women's golf team is in a better position than any year since the sport was restored in 2000.
The sport was discontinued in 1982.
Fourth-year head coach Shelley Sanders anticipates lower scores because of an increase in competition within the team.
"We're really exited for the start of this season, and I look for a really good thing," Sanders said.
The Cardinals begin the fall season this weekend in their only home match of the year: The Cardinal Classic at the Player's Club in Yorktown.
"Anytime you play at home, the players are most familiar with the facility," Sanders said. "They have friends and family for support, so it's a unique situation where they will have the most support at home."
The field of teams participating includes Austin Peay, Butler, Eastern Illinois, Evansville, Ferris State, Grand Valley State, Indianapolis, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Oakland, Southern Indiana, Rend Lake and Youngstown State.
Mid-American Conference teams include Bowling Green, Western Michigan and Toledo.
"I think the MAC schools will be the toughest competition," Sanders said. "I really think they're our best competition, but they have all lost seniors and have incoming freshman it's hard to really say."
The team is led by a strong sophomore class including Carmen Bodine, Ali Meyer and Katie Sundberg. It's backed by the leadership of senior Lisa Robertson.
Sundberg led all Ball State golfers last year in the MAC Championships and will participate in the Cardinal Classic as an individual.
Robertson, Meyer and Bodine qualified for play at the Classic.
"I look for all of them (Meyer, Bodine and Sundberg) to continue to improve," Sanders said "I think the extra competition will only be beneficial. They're going to have to play harder. It's good for the team and pushes them to play well."
Play starts on Saturday and continues through Sunday with an 8 a.m. shotgun start each day in the 36-hole event.
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