Bulldog Women Peaking In Time For WCC Golf Championship
4/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
April 17, 2011
SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University head women's golf coach Brad Rickel thinks his team might be peaking just in time for the West Coast Conference Championship that has its two-day run Monday and Tuesday at San Juan Oaks Golf Club in Hollister, Calif.
"I definitely think so. It's been such a rough year to practice weather wise it's taken us awhile to get to this point, Rickel said. "But I think we're the best we've been all spring right now so it will be up to execution."
The squad competed in the 36-hole Bulldog Spring Individual last Sunday, the only competition for the Bulldogs the last three weeks heading into the WCC Championship. But Rickel liked what he saw.
Victoria Fallgren tied for second at 146 with rounds of 70-76, Jessica Howe was fourth at 147 with rounds of 73-74, Sage Suffecool was in a two-way tie for fifth at 150 after rounds of 76-74 and Stephanie Corey was in a two-way tie for seventh at 151, recovering from an opening-round 78 to shot a second-round 73.
"I think the team is much more mature this year than we've had since I've been here. TJ (freshman Tai Jade Kliebphipat) has been our most consistent performer and I look for her to continue to be consistently good and that's been our biggest help," Rickel said.
Rickel said his lineup will be Kliebphipat in the No. 1 slot, followed by Howe, Fallgren, Corey and Suffecool, the latter the lone senior in the lineup.
"Over the last month we've been able to practice a ton and because of that we'll be as tough as we've ever been." Rickel predicted.
The tournament has a new look this season as Seattle University joins the fold as an affiliate member for women's golf. Pepperdine was the unanimous pick of the coaches in pre-season balloting to win the title with Gonzaga tabbed for third and receiving the other first-place vote as coaches were not allowed to vote for their team.
If the highly-favored Waves play to their potential they are figured to roll to their 10th straight WCC title and their 13th in the 15 years of the event.
But Rickel said anything can happen.
"The good thing about golf is the best person doesn't always win. There are too many variables in golf to always think one person or one team is always going to win, so there is always a chance of winning," he said. "If Pepperdine plays to their potential they will be tough to beat. I think all of the other teams have had highs and lows and any one of them could be in the final group the final day so we'll have to be our best."
Gonzaga's best finish has been third three times, the last in 2007. Gonzaga's best individual finish has been a tie for second by Mary Kate Morgan in 2006 and by Rachel Sibbitt in 2009.
San Juan Oaks Golf Club will play 6,342 yards to par 72. The tournament format will be 36 holes Monday and the final 18 holes Tuesday.
