BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Coming off a strong performance against top-50 ranked teams, Campbell continues its spring season Monday and Tuesday at the Briar's Creek Invitational where the Camels will defend their 2022 title.
 
After a Sunday practice round, the 54-hole event begins Monday with the first two rounds followed by Tuesday's final round at the Rees Jones designed Golf Club at Briar's Creek in Johns Island, S.C.
 
Against a field that included nine top-50 ranked teams, including five in the top-25, the Camels finished seventh last week at the Gators Invitational, placing ahead of No. 22 UCLA, No. 34 Michigan, and No. 36 NC State.
 
Ranked No. 65 in the latest Golfstat ratings, Campbell will again face a competitive field next week at Briar's Creek.  The 16-team event featured 13 ranked in the nations' top 100, including six in the top 50.
 
At Johns Island, the Camels will compete against No. 20 UCF in addition to five other teams ranked in the top 50 by Golfstat.  The event includes three teams from the ACC and six Big Ten members.
 
As a team, Campbell owns a 294.2 stroke average and two victories at the Golfweek Fall Challenge and Sea Best Intercollegiate at San Jose during the '22-23 campaign.
 
In the 2022 Briar's Creek Invitational, four Camel golfers finished among the top 15 individuals and Campbell claimed team honors.  In a field that included four teams ranked in the nation's top 30 and 15 in the top 100, Campbell (281-288-284—853) finished at 11-under par, 11 strokes better than runner up and 11th-ranked Michigan (284-293-287—864).  CU finished ahead of 11 schools representing Power 5 conferences.
 
Three Camels, who competed in last year's event are in this season's Briar's Creek lineup.  Sanna Lundmark, who finished fifth (71-74-69—214), Patricia Garre Munoz tied for 15th (77-72-70—219) and Tomita Arejola finished in a tie for 34th (70-76-78—224).  Freshmen Isabella Hahne and Taylah Ellems join the three Camel upperclassmen in next week's lineup.
 
Briar's Creek Invitational
GC at Briar's Creek / Johns Island, S.C.
Par 72, 6116 Yards / Mar. 13-14, 2023
 
Live Scoring: Golfstat.com
 
Format: 54 holes (36-18) with 8:45 a.m. shotgun start Monday and Tuesday.
 
The Field (Golfstat ranking):  Boston College (115), Campbell (65), Charleston (42), East Carolina (137), Illinois (55), Iowa (105), Maryland (35), Miami (72), Nebraska (36), NC State (48), North Florida (96), Old Dominion (73), Penn State (77), Rutgers (100), SMU (30), UCF (20).
 
The Course – GC at Briar's Creek (Par 72, 6116 yards): An integral part of the Briar's Creek experience is the way golf and the natural environment complement each other. There is no shortage of water, marshes, wetlands and wildlife, along with the occasional bunker, rough, and gently rolling, but quick putting surface. Set on more than 800 acres on scenic Johns Island, this private retreat provides an unhurried lifestyle and world-class golf with no tee times.  Precisely designed and skillfully maintained, the Rees Jones masterpiece embraces the rich, low country landscape and vegetation of Johns Island and the Kiawah River.
 
The Coach: Now in his 33rd year in charge of the Campbell men's golf program and 32nd as head coach of the CU women, John Crooks has been named league coach of the year 23 times in his tenure.  His teams have combined to earn 34 NCAA post-season trips, including 10 in a row for the women.  His teams have won 159 tournaments and with 98 career tournament titles, Crooks trails only Dan Brooks of Duke (140) on the all-time coaching victories list among Division I women's coaches.  He has guided his teams to 26 league titles, including 18 on the women's side and eight in men's competition.
 
The Lineup:
Freshman Isabella Hahne (Kungsbacka, Sweden) owns a 73.18 stroke average – second among Big South golfers – and five top 20 finishes in six collegiate starts.  She matched her collegiate low round (69) and posted a second-straight top-10 individual finish with her win at the Sea Best Intercollegiate after tying for third last October at the Olde Stone Intercollegiate.  Hahne tied for 11th at the Gators Invitational in her last outing and was named Big South freshman of the week for the fourth time this year.  She was also named Big South golfer of the week Feb. 16.
 
Junior Sanna Lundmark (Skellefea, Sweden) has finished among the top 25 individuals in five of her six starts this season.  She has compiled a 73.94 stroke average (tied for fifth in the Big South Conference) and finished sixth overall last October at The Southern.  She is coming off a T17 finish at the Gators Invitational and was named Big South golfer of the week on Mar. 9.
 
Fifth-year senior Tomita Arejola (Quezon City, Philippines) owns three top-20 outings in six events this season.  She has posted a 73.94 scoring average (tied for fifth in the Big South Conference) and was runner-up at the season-opening Golfweek Fall Invitational (70-70-65, -7).
 
Senior Patricia Garre Munoz (Murcia, Spain) has posted a 75.09 scoring average (10th in the Big South Conference) with three top-15 finishes in four starts this season.  She finished eighth at the Olde Stone Intercollegiate. 
 
Red-shirt freshman Taylah Ellems (Canberra, Australia) has competed in all six events and posted a 77.29 stroke average.  She was T32nd at the Golfweek Fall Challenge, where she shot a collegiate-low 69 in the opening round.
 
Next:  Following the Briars Creek Invitational, Campbell competes in the Chattanooga Classic, Apr. 2-4 Council Fire CC in Chattanooga, Tenn.