The Penn State women's golf team will get an opportunity to escape the winter woes as it heads to North Carolina for the Pinehurst Challenge beginning at 8 a.m. today.

The team has been practicing indoors in Holuba Hall while the Penn State Blue Course remains blanketed with snow.

This weekend will provide the Nittany Lions with an opportunity to return to the outdoors and golf competitively.

The women's golf last competed in the Landfall Tradition in October. Junior Christin Pacacha said she's ready to start competing again after the hiatus.

"We're all pretty excited to get out in fresh air," she said. "We've been working hard in here, having productive practices and we're ready to get back out there."

Under the leadership of its 15-year head coach, Denise St. Pierre, the team is beginning its spring season hoping for a strong Big Ten showing.

A win at the the Penn State Invitational highlighted last fall, but an upsetting ninth place finish in the Big Ten concluded the season.

"We try to take each event individually," Pacacha said. "If it goes well, great, that's something to build on. If not, you have another one to try again."

St. Pierre said she hopes the team improves on the fall Big Ten competition when the Big Ten championships arrive in April.

"They have all prepared themselves as well as they can indoors," St. Pierre said. "They are excited about getting out, playing and competing."

The Nittany Lions may be at a disadvantage this weekend since the other teams competing have been practicing outdoors, but St. Pierre said that doesn't mean the team can't do well.