Geddes, Norman Head New Year’s Tournament Field

Jane Geddes, this year’s U.S. Women’s Open champion, will be among eight women pro golfers challenging Greg Norman and other men in the $250,000 Spalding Invitational tournament on New Year’s weekend.

The non-tour event will be played Dec. 31-Jan 3 on three courses. The women get distance advantages off the tees.

Tournament Director Harold Firstman, who has included women in the field the last week eight years, announced this week that Geddes, SAlly LIttle, Juli Inkster, Patty Sheehan, Mary Beth Zimmerman, Jan Stephenson, Val Skinner and Beth Daniel have accepted invitations for this winter’s tournament.

Norman, the top performer on the PGA tour this year, will head a field of men also including Craig Stadler, Johnny Miller and defending champion Tim Norris.