The old saying that "time flies" is certainly applicable to the 2010-11 Chattanooga Mocs women's golf team.  As the program enters its fourth season, it has its first pair of fourth-year seniors in standouts Emma de Groot (Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia) and Christine Wolf (Igls, Austria).

"I can't believe it's already the fourth year," said head coach Colette Murray.  "Emma and Christine have been joys to coach.  They compete and work and have built the foundation for this program."

The Mocs are coming off their first Southern Conference Championship in 2010 and second trip, as a team, to regionals.  It was the third regional appearance for de Groot as she qualified as an individual as a wee freshman in 2008.

It is de Groot that begins the conversation when looking at the 2010-11 version of the Mocs.  She holds virtually every record in the program and is coming off a strong 2010 campaign finishing the year ranked No. 38 in the country.

She is a three-time All-SoCon pick and has won five times as a collegian, at least once per season.  Along with the five wins, she has a total of 15 top fives and 18 top 10s in her 34 career outings.

Wolf has been a steady performer throughout her career.  She is a former all-league selection and has nine top 10s in her career.  She has played some of her best collegiate golf at key times.

Her consistency at the 2009 NCAA Central Regional keyed the Mocs advance to the finals finishing eighth at The Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio.  Last fall, she shot a career-best 216 (E) in finishing tied for third at the Golfweek Conference Challenge and keying a third-place finish just two shots off Pepperdine's winning pace.

Joining the seniors returning from the 2010 starting lineup is junior Maria Juliana Loza (Bucaramanga, Colombia).  Loza is a two-year starter who earned all-conference merit in 2010 after all-freshman honors in 2009.  Her continued growth gives the Mocs a strong experienced trio atop the lineup.

"For the first time, we are very experienced," said Murray.  "Emma, Christina and Maju have played a lot of competitive golf together and have pulled together to accomplish high goals.  Their leadership will be vital in bringing along our freshmen whom I am very excited about."

Two freshmen enter this fall with the opportunity to play right away.  Jordan Britt (Signal Mountain, Tenn.) and Yushira Budhram (Bryanston, South Africa) are in a unique position on a team pushing for top 25 status.

"It's not every day that freshmen get to make such an impact right away on a ranked team," noted Murray.  "It is a great opportunity for them and really next year's class as well.  Both are very talented and have a lot to learn, but also have a lot to give this season."

Britt is a local recruit who enters off a strong summer where she was a semifinalist at the Tennessee Women's Amateur.  She led Signal Mountain High School to the TSSAA A-AA State Championship winning medalist honors by nine strokes.

Budhram has strong international experience as one of the top-ranked juniors in South Africa.  She tied for fifth at the 2009 U.S. Junior Masters (Ponte Vedre Inn & Club) and won seven times in junior and adult tournaments in her country.  She also qualified and competed at the 2007 DLF Women's Indian Open on the Asian Tour.

The Mocs open in late September at the Golfweek Conference Challenge (26-28) in Vail, Colo.  Chattanooga finished a strong third last season and faces field that includes Arizona, Denver, Pepperdine, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Virginia - all were top 20 programs in 2010.

From there, UTC returns for the Mercedes-Benz Women's Championship (Oct. 8-10) in Knoxville which always attracts a top field.  That is followed by the The Landfall Tradition (Oct. 22-24) at the County Club of Landfall in Wilmington, N.C., site of the 2010 NCAA Championship.  The Mocs close out the fall at the Paladin Invitational (Oct. 29-31) at Furman in Greenville, S.C.

The spring portion is very similar to last year with a new wrinkle.  After opening again at the stacked Kinderlou Forest Challenge (Feb. 25-27) in Valdosta, Ga., the Mocs return to the SunTrust Gator Women's Golf Invitational (March 6-7) in Gainesville, Fla., where de Groot captured medalist honors in 2010.

Another familiar event follows heading back to Orange Park, Fla., for the JMU/Eagle Landing Invitational (March 11-13) where Chattanooga won in 2009.  The Mocs then make their first appearance in the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic at Georgia (April 1-3).

After a two-week layoff, Chattanooga goes back to Moss Creek golf Club in Hilton Head, S.C., to defend its SoCon title April 17-19.  The postseason schedule includes NCAA Regional play May 5-7 with three sites - Daytona Beach, Fla., Notre Dame, Ind., and Seattle, Wash.  The NCAA Championship is May 17-20 at Traditions Golf Club in College Station, Texas.

"I am very excited about this season," Murray continued.  "We have talent, experience and are committed to getting better every day.  The schedule is challenging, and it is one I think we are ready for.