JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State women's golf team will get its 2010-11 season underway this weekend, when the Gamecocks host the 15th annual Chris Banister Golf Classic at Silver Lakes Golf Course in Glencoe.

The 54-hole event will be played on the 5,943-yard, par-72 layout and will feature seven teams, including rival Samford and defending champion Lamar. The tournament will begin on Saturday with practice rounds, while competition will get underway with an 8 a.m. shotgun start on Sunday. The second round will begin at 10 a.m. on Monday, while the final round will get underway on Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. Admission is free.

“We are always excited about the opportunity to host this tournament,” JSU head coach James Hobbs said. “It gives us a chance to play really early in the year, which generally means you'll have good weather and a golf course that is in good condition. This tournament also gives our girls a chance to play their home course to open the season, and the Labor Day weekend means we only miss one day of class.”

The Gamecocks, who have finished in the Ohio Valley Conference's top two in each of the last six seasons, return four members of their five-person lineup from a year ago, including three All-OVC performers. Back is junior Lucia Fernandez, a First-Team All-OVC and all-tourney performer last season. Senior Laura Cutler, whose Second-Team All-OVC selection last year was her third all-conference honor. Also returning are sophomores Ornella Arrizon, an Ovc All-Newcomer pick in the spring, and Luz Armijo.

Lamar, who edged JSU by five shots in the 2009 Chris Banister Golf Classic, will be joined at Silver Lakes this weekend by Mercer, Evansville, Butler and Florida Gulf Coast.

The annual fall event is named after Chris Banister, who served as an assistant coach for the Gamecock Golf program from 1995-99. He was vital in the Gamecocks' transition into a Division I men's program and with the initiation of the women's golf program at JSU.

“Chris was described by many who knew him well, as a person who was very unselfish, who loves to teach golf,” Hobbs said. “He had keen instincts for the mechanics of one's golf swing and the unique ability to teach one to swing better. Teaching the finer points of the game was what Chris did best. Chris left his mark on many golfers, both young and old.”