The Maryland women's golf team will travel to Charleston, S.C. this weekend for the annual Cougar Classic at Yeamans Hall Club. The tournament, hosted by the College of Charleston, will feature 24 teams from across the country.

The three-round contest will begin on Sunday, Sept. 9th with the tournament concluding on the 11th. Last season, Maryland finished 14th at the Classic and this year marks the 10th anniversary for the event.

The Cougar Classic marks the first tournament of the season for the Terps, who return three members from last year's squad. Sophomore Juliet Vongphoumy is back from her 2012 All-ACC season, when she finished the spring with the Maryland all-time record for scoring average (73.72). Last fall Vongphoumy finished tied for 63rd at the tournament.

Senior Christine Shimel also competed in the Classic in 2011, finishing tied for 67th with a three-round score of 227. Shimel returns in 2012 as the team's most experienced golfer, and a 2012 NGCA All-American Scholar Recipient and All-ACC Academic selection. The Classic marks the first appearance at the event for junior Emily Gimpel. Last season Gimpel was also a choice for the 2012 All-ACC academic team, while placing third on the team with a 75.50 scoring average.

Other teams competing at the Cougar Classic include #2 Alabama, #3 Auburn, Charleston, Charleston Southern, #17 Duke, #14 Florida, Furman, #11 Georgia, #10 LSU, Miami, Ole Miss, #6 North Carolina, Penn State, South Carolina, USC, #16 Tennessee, Central Florida, UNCG, Wake Forest, #5 Vanderbilt, Virginia, Wisconsin (Rankings from GolfStat Top-20 from Fall '11).