PEORIA, Ill. -- A little bit of history is in store for the Bradley University's women's golf team when the squad opens its spring season at the 54-hole Kiawah Island National Invitational, Feb. 22-24. The Braves will be one of 43 teams in the event which will be the largest collegiate tournament in women's golf history.

"It is always nice to be a part of history," BU coach Bo Ryan said "Opportunities like this don't come along every day. We're looking forward to the competition."

And what competition it will be.

Twelve teams ranked in the top 75, led by No. 25 Oregon and No. 30 Florida, coached by Peoria Central graduate Jill Briles-Hinton, highlight the field. No less than 20 teams ranked in the top 100 are competing. Teams from 19 NCAA D-I Conferences are represented in the three-event.

"Other than the NCAA regional, this quite possibly is the strongest field we've went up against," Ryan said. "It will be a good challenge for us, particularly this early in the year."

Bradley, ranked 110th, will be one of four Missouri Valley Conference teams in the tournament. Illinois State, Missouri State and Southern Illinois are also in the field

Bradley, which won the Missouri Valley Conference Preview Tournament in October, is paced by three-year letterwinner and two-time Bradley female athlete of the year Bari Erais and freshman Kelly Amundrud, both of whom averaged 77.3 in the fall.

Erais tied for first at the Payne Stewart Memorial and fired a school-record-tying 69 in the first round of the Lamkin Cup. Amundrud had her best finish at the Lamkin Cup, finishing fourth with a pair of 74s and earning Missouri Valley Conference Payer of the Week accolade for the effort.

Oregon's Kendra Little, ranked 47th and No. 50 Jesscia Yadloczky of Florida lead the individual field. Little averaged 73.1 in the fall; Yadloczky 75.0.