Fallgren, Kliebphipat Qualify For Women's Amateur Public Links
6/7/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University women's golfers Victoria Fallgren and Tai Jade 'TJ' Kliebphipat have qualified for the 36th U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship from June 18-23.
The tournament will be played at Neshanic Valley Golf Course in Neshanic Station, N.J.
This marks the third straight year the Bulldogs have had two players in national tournaments.
"I'm excited two of our players get to play in the Public Links again," Gonzaga head coach Brad Rickel said. "Last year TJ and (2012 incoming freshman) Raychelle Santos played in the Public Links at Bandon Dunes and the year before Victoria and Genna (Genavive 'Genna' Dodge) played in the U.S. Amateur so three years in a row we will have had two of our players who get to play in a national championship in the summer."
Fallgren, the defending West Coast Conference Tournament champion, and Kliebphipat participated in the sectional qualifying at Los Serranos Golf & Country Club in Chino Hills, Calif. Fallgren shot a 71 and Kliebphipat a 73 which put her in a five-way playoff for the final four spots and an alternate position.
"TJ (and the other four golfers) had an 80 percent chance of qualifying when she went into the playoff," Rickel said.
Rickel thinks both golfers have a chance to advance. The format calls for 36 holes of stroke play with the top 64 finishers advancing to match play.
"I think they are just one year older, one year wiser, one year better. They both have experience, Victoria numerous times and TJ at least twice, so I think you are always better the second time you play. Victoria has made the cut. I think when they show up both will show up with a flat out opinion they still need to be playing on Wednesday and Thursday and so forth," Rickel said.
Rickel said the experience and the exposure is good for the program, and he anticipates more players in the future to participate in marquee summer tournaments such as the Public Links and the Amateur.
"It speaks to the experience and quality of golfer that has started to come to Gonzaga. They are committed, they are experienced, they are willing to try and play in the biggest and best golf tournaments," Rickel said. "I think we're just beginning to scratch the surface. From here on out we'll probably have players in big time tournaments in the summer where they will have to qualify because we have great players."
Last year Kliebphipat lost in a playoff for the right to advance to match play of the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Ore. In 2010 Fallgren lost in the second round of match play of the WAPL at The Warren Course at Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Ind. Dodge qualified for the 2010 WAPL but did not make the cut for match play.
