WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Hampton University men's and women's golf teams will open the spring 2010 season this weekend, competing in the Winston-Salem State Spring Golf Challenge at the Winston Lake Golf Course on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The Pirates competed in the tournament last spring, finishing third on March 22, 2009. Former Pirate Arturo Saro turned in the team's best individual finish, coming in a tie for fifth after firing a 30-over 172 (90-82) on the par-71 course.

Sidney Fields (Decatur, Ga.) also finished in the top 10, coming in ninth with a 33-over 175 (93-82).

The Pirates closed out the fall 2009 season with a seventh-place finish in the Savannah State Tiger Fall Invitational on Nov. 10. Hampton finished with an 87-over 655 (329-326), while Geoffrey Napper (Bowie, Md.) led the Pirates with a 15-over 175 (78-79) to come in 16th.

The Lady Pirates won the Savannah State Tiger Fall Invitational after beating Bethune-Cookman in a playoff. Hampton finished with a team score of 626 (314-312) at the par-71 Henderson Golf Club.
Four Lady Pirates finished in the top 10, led by Kayla Williams (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.).

Williams came in second with an 8-over 150 (78-72), while Sydnee Mack (Las Vegas, Nev.) finished third after firing an 11-over 153 (80-73). Nicole West (Springdale, Md.) shot a 17-over 159 (78-81) to finish in a tie for sixth, and Iman Ellis (Reynoldsburg, Ohio) came in 10th after shooting a 22-over 164 (78-86).

Jessi Mitchell (Fayetteville, Ga.) finished 23rd with a 49-over 191 (102-89).

Williams' second-round 72 was a team best and the low round of the tournament.

The Lady Pirates won two tournaments in the spring 2009 season, taking the South Carolina State Triangular on April 5 in Orangeburg, S.C. and winning the Women's Collegiate Championship on April 26 in Stone Mountain, Ga.

For more information on Hampton University golf, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.