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Highlands Today

Women's Invite Rings In New Year

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: January 3, 2008

SEBRING — It can be a stepping stone or a launching pad.

Either way, the 53rd annual Harder Hall Women's Invitational continues to showcase the finest in women's amateur golf year in and year out — and 2008 is certainly no exception.

"Word of mouth and time of the year really has helped this tournament grow," said tournament director Carol Semple Thompson. "Many of these girls want to play right after the holidays, so they come here and then many go back to school either college or high school."

Semple Thompson, a three-time Harder Hall Invitational champion and the captain of the 2006 Curtis Cup winning team, is still one of only eleven golfers to hold both the United States and British Women's Amateur championships.

Past champions of this prestigious event include Aree Song, Brittany Licicome, and Morgan Pressell, who became the youngest female to win an event on the LPGA tour when she won the trophy at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in 2007. Stacy Lewis, who won the event in 2006 but couldn't defend her title due to injury last year, is back in an attempt to reclaim her title.

This year, "a family affair" could be a fair description of the entry list with four sets of sisters playing in the tournament and a mother/daughter tandem in this year's field. Among the sisters include three daughters (Marika, Isabelle and Daniele) of tennis great Ivan Lendl.

"[Ivan's] daughters are starting to make their mark," Semple Thompson said. "They have that competitive drive from their father, who supports them 100 percent and has been known to caddie for them."

Marika Lendl has established herself as one of the top junior players in the country, with seven top-five finishes in the American Junior Golf Association events since 2004. She's signed a national letter of intent to play for the University of Central Florida for the 2008-09 campaign.

The lure of this tournament comes down to location, the course and the hard work of former tournament director Wilma Gilliland, who at 82 years old, will not be in attendance for the first time in 40 years.

"Wilma put a lot of time to make this event special," Semple Thompson said. "I know she wants to be here, and we'll make sure to get her updates as the tournament progresses."

With all this talent coming to this little oasis in Central Florida, Semple Thompson explains what has been the appeal and the attraction to this event over the years.

"Harder Hall is a very comfortable course and very manageable," she said. "That isn't to say it's an easy course, but I think many girls coming from the north really enjoy playing Harder Hall and continue to come back each year.

"This is a great way to kick off the new year."

The four-day tournament begins today with the ladies teeing off in two waves at 7:30 and 11:30 a.m.

For full coverage, see Friday through Sunday's sports sections.

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