Schepperle, Thompson headline Harder Hall field

Defending champion Candace Schepperle and some of the best amateurs in the country will compete in the 55th annual Harder Hall Women's Invitational, which tees off today at Harder Hall Country Club.

Schepperle, who shot a course-record 65 in last year's final round to win by seven strokes, headlines a field of 144 golfers who will look to capture arguably the most prestigious amateur title in the state.

A cursory glance at the list of past champions - Cristie Kerr (1995), Natalie Gulbis ('01), Brittany Lincicome ('04), Morgan Pressel ('05), among others - reveals that this tournament undoubtedly produces future winners on the LPGA Tour.

Here's why: Top-ranked golfers want to remain competitive over the winter months, particularly college players, who are currently in between semesters. They also may need to pick up valuable points in the two-year chase for a Curtis Cup berth.

"This is a tournament you don't want to miss," said Pete DuPriest, the head golf professional at Harder Hall, "so you're going to get a lot of the best players."

Schepperle, now a senior at Auburn University, won last year's tournament at 13-under-par 275, after her record-breaking final round. Her stiffest competition this time could come from her Tigers teammate, junior Cydney Clanton, who finished 12th at this event last year. Also a threat: 14-year-old Alexis Thompson, a celebrated amateur who made quite a splash in 2009, when she placed 34th at the U.S. Women's Open and then grabbed a share of the 36-hole lead at the Navistar LPGA Classic in October.

"Somebody here is going to be one of the next superstars on tour," DuPriest said. "It's a proven fact. Just look at the board (of past champions)."

This is one of the final amateur events in the two-year selection process for the Curtis Cup, the female equivalent of the Walker Cup, which pits the eight best American amateurs against those from Great Britain and Ireland.

"There are some really top players who will be battling it out here," said tournament chairman Carol Semple Thompson, who won't compete in the tournament after recently breaking her left wrist.

The venue is Harder Hall Country Club, which at 6,150 yards certainly isn't the longest test these players will face this season. Still, DuPriest noted that about 350 pine trees have been planted - although they likely won't play much of a factor, at only 15-20 feet - and the course is "in the best shape since I've been here," he said.

Said Semple Thompson, a three-time winner of the event: "It's still an excellent test."

Starting at 8 a.m. today, players will go off in foursomes from both tees, Nos. 1 and 10, in an attempt to expedite what can be a lengthy 18-hole round. They also will use carts.

The four-round Harder Hall Women's Invitational will conclude on Saturday afternoon.

55th annual Harder Hall Women's Invitational

WHERE: Harder Hall Country Club in Sebring

WHO: 144 female amateurs, some of the best in the country

COST: Free for all spectators