It's hard to play in a tournament when the competition is a mystery. But it's a little easier when you're the defending champion.

The women's golf team plays this weekend at the William & Mary Invitational in Williamsburg, Va., starting today on a golf course they are very familiar with.

Seniors Kristin Clark, Meg Young, Kerry Lee O'Leary and Kristin Roland each have played on the Ford's Colony golf course at least twice. The course is also a team favorite, especially since they won the tournament there last year.

"We're very familiar with the course," Young said. "I love this course and I'm looking forward to playing it."

The Lady Lions have been mentally preparing for the invite by simulating each hole at Holuba Hall. By playing each hole indoors, the team has been able to imagine the shots necessary to play the course well. The seniors have also been describing Ford's Colony to course newcomers Kristin Lindgren and Colleen Scally.

The team is unsure of which schools will be at the invitation. Going into the weekend, only James Madison, Methodist, Iowa and Charleston were committed to the tournament. But no matter which teams play, Penn State will be one of the favorites because of its experience.

"The team feels comfortable with the tournament and the course," Assistant Coach Denise St. Pierre said. "We won the tournament last year and it should be a similar field. The team has something concrete to hold onto because of last year's performance."

The Lady Lions have worked on changing their attitudes. The golfers were focusing too much on scores and outcome and not enough on process, said St. Pierre. They have been concentrating at practices on the process.

"I'm expecting us to finish in the top three," St. Pierre said. "I'd be disappointed if we didn't. We should be able to put enough good rounds together to do that."