CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois women's golf team returns to action this weekend as the Illini open its spring season with a trip to Viera, Fla., for the Columbia Classic Presented by Moon Golf on Sunday and Monday, February 13-14.

THE SETTING
The Columbia Classic will be held at the Duran Golf Club, with the course set up for a par 72 and will play 6,383 yards.

Duran Golf Club of Viera opened for business in summer 2005. The course is built on what was once a thriving cattle ranch and sod farm belonging to A. Duda & Sons Inc. — land that has been in the Duda family for five generations. On that land, they have created a unique course with gently undulating terrain. More than a million cubic yards of earth were moved and shaped to create a course with links characteristics, including rolling terrain and mounded greens. Some 15 ponds and lakes were created that add beauty and drama to almost every hole on the course. The landscaping has a natural feeling, featuring many native grasses from the area. Because of the former agricultural uses on the property, only one tree was standing here at the time that the building of the course began.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT
There will be 15 teams competing in the 54-hole tournament with 36 holes of continuous play on Sunday (February 13), followed by the final 18 on Monday (February 14). Sunday will feature an 7:15 a.m. CT shotgun start, with a 7 a.m. CT start on Monday. Official tee times are available on Golfstat.

THE FIELD
Along with the Illini, the 15-team field includes host Columbia, Albany, Boston, Dartmouth, Georgia, Iowa State, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Princeton, Purdue, Texas Tech, Tulsa, Virginia Tech, and Yale.

FIGHTING ILLINI LINEUP
No. 1: Crystal Wang
No. 2: Kornkamol Sukaree
No. 3: Siyan Chen
No. 4: Isabel Sy
No. 5: Lexanne Halama

Individual: Alise Knudson

ILLINI AT THE COLUMBIA CLASSIC
This will be the first time the Illini will play in the Columbia Classic.

LIVE SCORING
Live scoring for the Columbia Classic will be available on Golfstat.com. A recap and results will be posted on FightingIllini.com following each day of play.

UP NEXT
The Illini next travel to Houston, Texas, for the Icon Invitational on Feb. 21-22 at the Golf Club of Houston.  

For more Fighting Illini women's golf news, stay tuned to FightingIllini.com and follow @IlliniWGolf on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook.