Sept. 13, 2009

SPOKANE, Wash. - Twelve teams will join co-hosts Gonzaga University and Eastern Washington University for the Bulldog and Eagle Invitational women's golf tournament Monday and Tuesday at Hangman Valley Golf Course.

The 54-hole tourney begins Monday with 36 holes and a 9 a.m. shotgun start. The final 18 holes will feature tee times on No. 1 and 10 beginning at 7:30 a.m. The course will play 6,077 yards to par 72.

The tournament returns to Hangman Valley Golf Course after a year's hiatus while the course was closed for major renovations. Last year's tournament was played at The Links in Post Falls, Idaho. Defending champion Portland State University and medalist Stephanie Johns of the Vikings are not in this year's field.

Teams comprising this year's field in addition to the Bulldogs and the Eagles are McNeese State University of Lake Charles, La., Northern Arizona University, Utah Valley University, UC Riverside, Seattle University, Southern Utah University, CS Northridge, University of Portland, Montana State University, University of British Columbia, University of Montana and Idaho State University.

The Bulldogs have an experienced, albeit young, squad that has third-year head coach Brad Rickel looking for the Bulldogs to be much improved. And one of his youngsters has already made quite an impression as freshman Victoria Fallgren of Lakewood, Calif., has earned the No. 1 spot for the season opener.

Fallgren will be joined by junior Sage Suffecool at No. 2, sophomore Jessica Howe at No. 3, sophomore Stephanie Corey at No. 4 and junior Rachel Sibbitt at No. 5.

Rickel will enter the remainder of his team as individuals - seniors Lauren Bierley and Anna Friedhoff, and freshman Genna Dodge of nearby Post Falls.

But the top five this week won't necessarily be the top five next week, which can be a good thing according to Rickel.

Anybody can be in our top five right now," he said on the eve of the opener. "Everybody knows they need to work hard and play well or they have a chance to be on the outside looking in. That's the first time that has been the case here."

Rickel thinks Gonzaga is at a new level.

"I definitely think we're at a new level. On paper it's the best team they've ever been. We return our four best players, return four of the top six stroke averages in school history and then add a couple of freshmen who will be right in the mix. We'll be six deep for maybe the first time ever."

Rickel said the veterans have performed well in practice and qualifying.

"The veterans have looked good. A couple of them are working their way into the first week of practice, but they're preparing the way they know I want them to for the first tournament. Come Monday I think they'll all be 100 percent ready to go," Rickel said.

Now in his third year, Rickel thinks the veterans are "head and shoulders above emotionally and mentally about what's going on the first week of school. Sage is our captain and has taken on that responsibility well. They understand the situation of what we're trying to do better. Physically they are older and wiser, but they have just learned more about the game and how to go about it."

While Fallgren has come in an played well as a freshman, Rickel is excited about the potential of Dodge.

"Genna is doing great. She has the most to gain by experience. She's physically gifted but golf wise is a little behind in tournament experience. She will learn more and grow more than anybody on this team this year. It just depends on when it all comes together for her. When it comes together for her she is scary good. She just doesn't have the experience to know how or what to do in certain moments."

Following this week's tournament the Bulldogs will travel to Pullman next week for the Northwest Dodge Dealers Inland Cup hosted by Washington State University, giving the team the advantage of starting the season at or close to home.

"We'll play all eight players in our tournament and take six or seven to WSU. It's a big deal to stay home, stay in our own beds for most of the first month of school and play two tournaments close to home. We'll get to play a lot of people and it's exactly the way I would choose to start the year. I'm looking forward to gaining a ton of experience right away."

Rickel said the Bulldogs are also ready to move up the West Coast Conference ladder.

"Pepperdine has everybody back off a Top 10 team and the University of San Francisco also returns everybody from a Top 20 or 25 team. The University of Portland and Santa Clara University are much the same as last year. I think it's our time to starting moving up the conference."

Gonzaga was fourth in the five-team WCC Championship last year, sandwiched between SCU and Portland. Sibbitt finished tied for second for the highest Gonzaga finish ever and earned All-WCC first-team honors.