It's late-October, it's cold and there's a decent chance that flurries are flying through the air as you read this. Any attempt to play golf now would be futile, especially when you have to try to find your ball in the snow. But the Penn State women's golf team has found a way to combat the weather: Make like the birds and migrate south.

The team left yesterday for the Landfall Tradition, where the University of North Carolina at Wilmington serves as host.

The event, which runs today through Sunday, consists of three days of 18 holes played on three separate Jack Nicklaus-designed courses at the Country Club of Landfall.

The field this weekend boasts an average national ranking of 43, putting Penn State right in the thick of things. The Nittany Lions currently hold the No. 60 ranking nationally.

Leading the pack are ACC powers Virginia and Wake Forest. Also joining the Lions in North Carolina will be familiar Big Ten teams Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State.

Coming off a victory over Michigan at the Mercedes-Benz Championships, head coach Denise St. Pierre said any chance to perform against Big Ten teams is crucial.

"Anytime you can beat some Big Ten teams, especially ones that have beaten us in the past [at the season's first tournament], it's an added bonus," St. Pierre said.

Coming off a two-week layoff, the team is as optimistic and as confident as it has been all season.

"The team is focused on the right things and as long as we stick to it," St. Pierre said. "We are very close."

Part of becoming a great team is sticking to a game plan, which this week is to be conservative and keep the ball in play. Water is a hazard on 14 of Landfall's 27 holes, meaning accuracy will be key.

"We're focused on playing conservatively because this course can really put big numbers into play," St. Pierre said.

Of course it doesn't hurt to have three returning players who have each played the course before. Seniors Maggie Lester and Evelyn Paik, along with junior Sara Lester competed in the Landfall last year and finished within the top-50.

"We did pretty well last year," said Paik. "And we think we can definitely do well this year because we have some experience, and we're confident in ourselves."

So as golfers all around State College begin to pack up their clubs for the winter, the Lions are headed south in search of one last strong finish to close out the fall season and use as a springboard to bigger and better things in the spring.

"We are doing the right things," St. Pierre said. "And as long as we stay the course, we will keep improving and become a great team."