May 1, 2000; State College, Pa.- For the second consecutive season, the Penn State women's golf team has received an invitation to participate in the NCAA East Regional Qualifying Tournament, NCAA officials announced on Monday.

Hosted by Ohio State University, the 2000 event will take place May 11-13 on the par-72, 6,126-yard Scarlet Golf Course in Columbus.

A total of 126 participants from the Midwest, Middle Atlantic East, and South NCAA districts will compete in the 54-hole tourney, beginning on Thursday, May 11. A minimum of 11 teams and three individuals will advance to the 2000 NCAA National Championship held at the University of Oregon on May 23-27.

The Nittany Lions, which competed at last weekend's Big Ten Championship, won the ECAC Championship in the fall. Freshman Katie Futcher (The Woodlands, Texas) has paced the squad during the spring season, posting a 78.07 stroke average through 29 rounds. Sophomore Andrea Lavelle (Whitby, Ontario) follows with a 78.55 average, while senior Sara Doell (Rochester, N.Y.) is third with a 78.76 average.

Last season, Penn State made its first-ever NCAA regional appearance as a team. In prior school history, only individual players had received invitations to participate.

 NCAA WOMEN'S GOLF EAST REGIONAL QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT Thursday, May 11-Saturday, May 13 Hosted by The Ohio State University Scarlet Golf Course, Columbus, Ohio 54 Holes