THE LAMBERT ACRES COURSE

For the 11th year in a row, the Lambert Acres Golf Club in Maryville, Tenn., will serve as one of the nation's most scenic courses for the Tennessee Lady Volunteer cross country team. A 27-hole golf course, Lambert Acres is nestled in the foothills of the breathtaking Great Smoky Mountains and boasts 9,525 yards of rolling hills with sloping grades throughout the entire layout.

The Lady Vols have hosted 11 meets at Lambert Acres in the previous 10 years they have competed there. In addition to playing host to the Tennessee Invitational eight times and the NCAA South Regional in 2002 and 2006, the Orange and White also welcomed the rest of the Southeastern Conference for the 1998 SEC Championships. It was at that meet that Amy Yoder of Arkansas set the 5K course record with a 16:52.22 pace en route to victory. Florida State's Susan Kuijken posted the 6K standard of 20:54.1 at the 2006 NCAA South Regional.

In 2008, the Lady Vols will make two appearances on the picturesque Blount County course, as they run at home in the Tennessee Invitational on Sept. 19 as well as the NCAA South Regional on Nov.15.

This year's Tennessee Invitational will feature the 5K women's race at 5:30 p.m. ET, while the men's 8,400-meter affair will be contested at 6:15 p.m. The 2008 Tennessee Invite will be the ninth edition of the meet after the 2007 version was contested as only a time trial.

The Big Orange women captured the Tennessee Invitational in 1998, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006, and they tied for the title in 1999. Maureen Ferris (1998), Sharon Dickie (2000, 2002) and Brooke Novak (2004) each legged out individual titles for the Lady Vols during their respective careers, and current UT standout Sarah Bowman began hers with one in 2005. In addition to the downgrading of the Tennessee Invitational in 2007, no meet was held in 2001. That season, the tragic events of Sept. 11 brought about the cancellation of the Sept. 14-scheduled event.

Two seasons ago at the Tennessee Invite on Sept. 15, the No. 14 UT women scored 28 points to roll past runner-up Georgia Tech (77) and nine other schools. Felicia Guliford set the tone, placing third in 18:13 to spur a 3-4-5-7-9 Lady Vol binge. Katie Flaute was fourth in 18:24, while Bowman was the Lady Vols' third top-five finisher at 18:27.

The Big Orange's hosting of the NCAA South Regional this season will be the school's third in the past seven years. UT began a spree of four straight regional titles by triumphing at Lambert Acres in 2002. The Lady Vols were third on their home course in 2006 and placed fourth last year in Gainesville, Fla.

Directions to Lambert Acres Golf Club

Lambert Acres Golf Course
3402 Tuckaleechee Pike
Maryville, TN 37803
865/982-9838

Holiday Inn Downtown to Lambert Acres - 23 Miles
Out of the parking lot, turn left onto Henley Street, get in the far right lane, go through the tunnel and take I-40 West, take Alcoa Hwy exit US 129 South. Go 11 Miles to TN 35 (this is one mile past McGhee-Tyson Airport) Bear left onto TN 35, travel approximately 5 miles to US 321 North. Bear left onto 321 North. Take 321 North for 5 miles to Tuckaleechee Pike. You will see a Lambert Acres Golf Club sign on the right side of the road and an Aztex gas station will be on the left. Tuckaleechee Pike is on the right. Turn right onto Tuckaleechee Pike, Lambert Acres is 1/2 mile on left.

University of Tennessee to Lambert Acres - 22 Miles
Take Cumberland Avenue to Alcoa Highway 129 South. Take 129 South, Go 11 Miles to TN 35 (this is one mile past McGhee-Tyson Airport). Bear left onto TN 35, travel approximately 5 miles to US 321 North, Bear left onto 321 North. Take 321 North for 5 miles to Tuckaleechee Pike. You will see a Lambert Acres Golf Club sign on the right side of the road and an Aztex gas station will be on the left. Tuckaleechee Pike is on the right. Turn right onto Tuckaleechee Pike. Lambert Acres is 1/2 mile on left.

Airport to Lambert Acres - 9 Miles
Turn right out of airport onto Alcoa Hwy 129 South. Bear left onto TN 35, travel approximately 5 miles to US 321 North, bear left onto 321 North. Take 321 North for 5 miles to Tuckaleechee Pike. You will see a Lambert Acres Golf Club sign on the right side of the road and an Aztex gas station will be on the left. Tuckaleechee Pike is on the right. Turn right onto Tuckaleechee Pike. Lambert Acres is 1/2 mile on left.

I-40 to Lambert Acres - 20 Miles
Take I-40 to Alcoa Hwy 129 South. Go 11 miles to TN 35 (this is one mile past McGhee- Tyson Airport). Bear left onto TN 35, travel approximately 5 miles to US 321 North, bear left onto 321 North. Take 321 North for 5 miles to Tuckaleechee Pike. You will see a Lambert Acres Golf Club sign on the right side of the road and an Aztex gas station will be on the left. Tuckaleechee Pike is on the right. Turn right onto Tuckaleechee Pike. Lambert Acres is 1/2 mile on left.