University of Tennessee Athletics
Newell Invited to Curtis Cup Practice Session
November 16, 2015 | Women's Golf
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Sophomore Anna Newell, ranked 44th in the Women's World Amateur Golf Ranking as of Nov. 16th, has accepted an invitation to the USGA Curtis Cup Practice Session. Newell was one of 12 players invited by the International Team Selection Committee of the United States Golf Association.
"I was super excited to get the invitation," stated Newell. "It honestly didn't even cross my mind that I would be invited to a practice session. Curtis Cup had crossed my mind in the summer at the Women's Am, but I hadn't thought about it since. I am thrilled to even be considered for the team."
The Curtis Cup is contested by one team of eight female players from the United States and one team of eight female players from Great Britain and Ireland. The GB&I team is made up of players from England, the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The practice session will be held at San Diego Country Club in Chula Vista, Calif. Dec. 18-19.
"I am looking forward to playing in the four ball and alternate shot format with the others girls invited. I think it will be a learning experience for all of us, especially those like me who don't know what to expect," commented Newell. "I'm excited to meet the captains and get to know them and try to learn as much as possible from them."
The invitation to the practice session follows Newell's record-setting performance at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown and her outstanding fall season.
She set the 54-hole NCAA record for total strokes and relation to par, posting an 18-under 198 at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown. Newell`s rounds of 65 in the tournament tie her with Young-A Yang for the second lowest round in Tennessee women's golf history. She is the only Tennessee player to shoot two rounds of 65 in a single tournament.
Newell's overall fall performance set three program records (lowest score after 36 holes, lowest score after 54 holes and lowest score in round two) and made the top-10 in three other categories (lowest rounds, low scores in round one and low scores in round three). Her 70.57 average through 14 rounds (five tournaments) puts her on track to set a new low single-season average for Tennessee. Erica Popson currently holds the record with an average of 72.19.
"I think this experience will only help my game and keep me pushing forward. The things I am practicing to help prepare can only benefit my game so I am happy to have the opportunity," added Newell.
When asked about Newell's accomplishment, head coach Judi Pavon exclaimed, "I'm so excited for Anna to be selected to attend this Curtis Cup selection practice. She is a great player and this is so well deserved." Pavon also stated, "I'm thrilled that she will be representing Tennessee and hope she will make the final team this spring."
Receiving an invitation to the practice session does not guarantee Newell a position on the USA Team for the 2016 Curtis Cup Match, which will be played on June 10-12 at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club in Enniskerry, Ireland.
For the most up-to-date information about the Tennessee women's golf team, visit UTSports.com/w-golf, follow @Vol_WGolf on twitter and like the Vols at Facebook.com/UTWomensGolf.
