COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Head coach Diana Cantu and the Maryland women's golf program announced the 2016-17 schedule on Thursday. The challenging slate includes five contests in the fall and five tournaments in the spring before preparing for Big Ten and NCAA Tournament play beginning in late April and early May, respectively.

"We are thrilled to announce this year's schedule and even more excited to get the season going," Cantu said. "Each tournament will challenge our players and will give us an opportunity to get better every week as we prepare for the Big Ten Championship and postseason play."

Maryland kicks off the competitive season with a trip to the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate at the Cherokee Country Club in Knoxville, Tenn., Sept. 12-13. Cantu is a former All-American golfer at the University of Tennessee, the tournament's host.

The Terps make the trek to the Carolinas for the next three events. After competing in the Lady Paladin Invitational in Greenville, S.C. Sept 23-25, Maryland plays in the Cougar Cup in Charleston, S.C. Oct. 2-4 and the Pinehurst Challenge in North Carolina Oct. 10-11.

Maryland wraps up the fall campaign with a trip to the Cardinal Cup in Louisville, Ky. Oct. 23-25.

The Terps kick off the spring with a trip back to sunny Puerto Rico as they did in the 2014-15 season for the Lady Puerto Rico Classic in San Juan Feb. 12-14. The team then travels to Florida for the Central District Invitational in Port St. Lucie Feb. 20-21 and the SunTrust Gator Women's Invitational in Gainesville March 11-12.

Maryland caps the regular season with two tournaments in the Peach State as they head to Georgia for the Henssler Financial Intercollegiate in Kennesaw March 27-28 and the Brickyard Collegiate in Macon April 10-11.

The 2017 Big Ten Women's Golf Championship will be held at the TPC River Bend in Maineville, Ohio April 21-23. NCAA Regional action begins May 8. The 2017 NCAA Women's Golf Championship is slated for May 19-24 at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill.

Sept. 12-13           Mercedes-Benz Collegiate              Cherokee Country Club - Knoxville, TN                                        

Sept. 23-25           Lady Paladin Invitational                   Furman University Golf Club - Greenville, S.C.                           

Oct. 2-4                  Cougar Classic                                    Yeamans Hall - Charleston, S.C.                    

Oct. 10-11             Pinehurst Challenge                           Pinehurst #1 - Pinehurst, N.C.                                                         

Oct. 23-25             Cardinal Cup                                        University of Louisville GC - Simpsonville, KY             

Feb. 12-14            Lady Puerto Rico Classic                  Rio Mar Country Club - San Juan, PR                           

Feb. 20-21            Central District Invitational                 St. Lucie Trail Golf Club - Port St. Lucie, FL                 

March 11-12         SunTrust Gator Women's Invite       Mark Bostick Golf Course - Gainesville, FL  

March 27-28         Henssler Financial Intercollegiate   Pinetree Country Club - Kennesaw, GA                        

April 10-11            Brickyard Collegiate                           The Brickyard Golf Club - Macon, GA                            

April 21-23            Big Ten Championship                      TPC River Bend - Maineville, OH                   

May 8-10               NCAA Regional                                   TBD                                                       

May  19-24            NCAA Championship                         Rich Harvest Farms - Sugar Grove, IL