MAGNOLIA, Ark. - Southern Arkansas Women's Golf will become the fifth Mulerider Athletics program to begin its 2023-24 campaign on Tuesday morning when round one of the Central Region Preview commences from the par-72, 5,910-yard course of the Adams Pointe Golf Club in Blue Springs, Missouri. The 36-hole tournament will take place over two days and will give fifth-year head coach Neriah Brown a first look at his six-member roster which includes one senior, two juniors and a trio of sophomores.
 
SAU competed in the event last fall and finished in 13th place behind the 12th best round (646) in the program's GolfStat Era.
 
Emma Hester, an All-GAC performer last spring, returns for her sophomore campaign following a solid season as a collegiate rookie that began with an impressive performance at last year's preview.
 
Hester, who placed 13th of the 86-golfer field with a 147 (+3), was one of 13 golfers to shoot even or better on par 3 holes and she finished even in par 5 opportunities. Hester made 26 pars; the fourth-most in the entire field. Her 147 tied for the second-best low 36-hole total in the GolfStat Era and is bettered only by Great American Conference All-Decade honoree Helle Leed.
 
Aubrey Marx is back for her sophomore season and returns to the course where she made her collegiate debut: a top 50 finish with 17 made pars and four birdies.
 
Taylor Rich, the team's lone senior, is set for her final year in the Blue and Gold. Rich competed in the spring and boasted a nine-stroke improvement from round one to round three at the GAC Championships in April.
 
Junior Aurea Carlisle, SAU's top performer at the league championships, put together rounds of 74-82-80 to finish at 236 (+20) in Hot Springs. Carlisle's opening round 74 was a team-best round for the tournament.
 
Junior Kelsey Saveall posted 17.0 rounds of action last season and finished in the top 145 of the region.
 
Southern Arkansas will compete over 18 holes on both Tuesday and Wednesday.