The Arizona women’s golf team will play host to one of the best fields of the year today at Arizona National Golf Club in Tucson.

Twelve of the top 16 teams in the nation will be playing the two-day, 54-hole event, including No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 UCLA and No. 4 Duke, with 36 holes played today and 18 played tomorrow.

“”It’s a great field, probably the best field that anyone will see until nationals,”” Arizona head coach Greg Allen said.

No. 20 Arizona struggled in its first tournament of the spring semester, finishing in 12th place at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge.

Senior Cassandra Kirkland, who finished last year ranked No. 24 in the nation, didn’t make the trip but is set to tee it up this morning, something Allen said he is excited about.

“”I think she had a chance to win individually,”” Allen said. “”She is hitting it good and her confidence is up.””

Kirkland is accompanied by fellow senior Whitney Welch and freshmen Adriana Zwanck, No. 78 Amanda Wilson and No. 90 Lauren Espinosa, a lineup that Allen has yet to use in a tournament.

Even with the different lineup and the tough field, Allen said he is excited about his team’s chances.

“”This is the first time this lineup has been together so I think we have a chance to go out there and play well in our home tournament, and I think we have a chance,”” he said.