With midterms over and finals looming on the horizon, most everyone would rather be on a tropical getaway, perhaps playing golf.

The women on the USF golf team are doing just that this week. The Bulls are participating in the Pat Bradley Invitational in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Friday through Sunday to commemorate the 25th year of the tournament. Florida International University is hosting this event and has since the conception of the Invite in 1977, but this is the first time it has been held outside Miami. USF is the highest ranked team (23rd) to attend the invitational, and they have high expectations for winning the tournament.

“Everybody is really excited,” USF coach Susan Holt said.

Holt is taking six players to Puerto Rico, including all three seniors who each have season stroke averages under 76. Holt was happy that she could take her seniors on an exciting trip such as this in their final season.

With a team stroke average of 299.5, and coming off a second-place finish as the host at the Beacon Woods Invitational in Bayonet Point, where junior Jill Crowe went 74-77-69 to finish fifth overall, the Bulls appear to be favored as the victors this weekend.

According to Holt, Ole Miss will be the Bulls’ most threatening opponent, coming out of Beacon Woods with a third-place finish. After finishing last at Beacon Woods, FIU hopes to have a better showing in Puerto Rico.

FIU is the alma mater of LPGA Hall of Famer Pat Bradley, who the event is named after. Bradley, a two-time LPGA Player of the Year, and winner of all four major tournaments on the tour, will be speaking at a banquet this weekend to commemorate the 25th year of the event.

The Bulls arrived in Fajardo Wednesday morning. Although there are a lot of distractions on such an exotic trip, the team has work to do, and Holt is setting a midnight curfew Wednesday to make sure the team is in top condition for this weekend’s tournament.

The Pat Bradley Invitational marks the end of the fall season. The spring schedule starts on Feb. 10 at the Green Wave Invitational, and the outlook for the rest of 2002-03 is good.

“We are on track to do some really positive things this year,” said Holt.