The University of Akron women’s golf team will open its fourth season today when it travels to Lincoln, Neb., for the 2011 Chip-N Club Invitational at the par-72, 6,186-yard Country Club of Lincoln.

The Zips open a season at the event for the second-consecutive year. Akron finished tied for sixth place in the 2010 edition of the invitational after posting a two-round score of 618 (+42).

Joining Akron in the 16-team field will be Creighton, Florida Gulf Coast, Houston Baptist, Iowa, Lamar, McNees State, No. 80 Missouri State, No. 94 Nebraska (host), North Dakota State, Redlands Community College, No. 87 Sam Houston State, SMU, South Dakota, No. 20 Texas A&M and Wichita State. The Zips enter the event ranked No. 108 in the Golfstat rankings.

Akron opens the campaign following the most successful season in the program’s three-year history. The Zips finished 2010-11 with top-10 finishes in all 11 events, including the team’s first team title at the Third Annual Zippy Invitational (Oct. 11-12, 2010).

Three seniors will lead the way for Akron, including Kristen Hill, Amanda Butler and Katie Jenior. Hill is a two-time First-Team All-MAC selection (2009, 2010) and was named to the Golf World 50 Women’s College Players to Watch list for the 2011-12 season by Campus Insider blogger Ryan Herrington on Sept. 7. UA will also have the services of sophomores Sara Chaves and Whitney Graff, as well as freshmen Sara Johansson and Laura Murray.