After Successful Year, Zags Eagerly Awaiting New Season
8/23/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
SPOKANE, Wash. - After its most successful season in school history, the Gonzaga University men's golf team is eagerly waiting for the 2013-14 campaign to roll around. The upcoming season boasts an expanded schedule, with multiple new tournaments, and could be the busiest schedule in program history.
"We're coming off our most successful season in history; jumping 50 spots in the rankings and our best finish ever at the West Coast Conference Championships," stated Gonzaga head coach Robert Gray, who is entering his 15 year at the helm. "We're definitely looking to make those same types of improvements this season and advance to the postseason."
The 2013-14 season has 11 regular season events on tap, plus the WCC Championships.
Once again, the fall consists of five tournaments, starting with the Itani Quality Homes Collegiate, hosted by Washington State University, Sept. 9-10 at the Palouse Ridge Golf Course. The Zags will then participate in the Kikkor Husky Invitational hosted by the University of Washington Sept. 16-17 at the Gold Mountain - Olympic Course, which will again be the site of the WCC Championship in 2014.
"It's always great to play the Conference course more than just the practice round prior to the event," said Gray. "Getting out on Gold Mountain this fall for one more event will be a great benefit. For the returners, they know the course pretty well after the last couple of years, but the incoming players will learn a lot that week. The course does play faster in the dryer conditions of the fall, but learning where the ball needs to be around and on the greens will definitely be a benefit going into the WCC Championship next April."
After the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational, hosted by the University of Colorado at the Colorado National Golf Course, Sept. 23-24, the Bulldogs will participate in the Brickyard Collegiate Championship for the first time since the 2010-11 campaign. The Brickyard Collegiate will be hosted by Mercer University Oct. 4-6 at Brickyard at Riverside in Macon, Ga.
"Our lone change to the fall schedule is replacing Notre Dame's event with the trip to the Brickyard Collegiate, held in Macon," stated Gray. "The Brickyard is one of the strongest tournaments in the country and will be a valuable experience for our players."
Gonzaga will close out the fall at the Bill Cullum Invitational, hosted by Cal State Northridge, Oct. 21-22 at Wood Ranch Country Club in Northridge, Calif.
The spring season for the Bulldogs will now consist of six tournaments, plus the conference championship.
"We've added two additional events in the spring to increase our tournament experience heading into the WCC Championship," explained Gray. "We'll see a number of top programs that made the postseason last year, making it another strong schedule."
The two additional tournaments in the spring will both be held in Texas. The Rice Intercollegiate, which Gonzaga is participating in for the first time in school history, will open the spring for the Bulldogs and will be held Feb. 17-18 in Houston, Texas at the Westwood Golf Course. The second tournament in Texas is the historical 63rd Annual Border Olympics, hosted by the University of Houston, March 14-15 in Laredo, Texas at the Laredo Country Club.
"Both of these tournaments are great additions to our schedule," said Gray.
The other spring tournaments include the Snowman Getaway, hosted by Loyola, Feb. 24-25 in Goodyear, Ariz., at the Palm Valley Golf Course; the Duck Invitational, hosted by the University of Oregon, March 24-25 in Creswell, Ore., at the Emerald Valley Golf Club; and the Wyoming Cowboy Classic where the Zags will defend its 2012 title. The tournament will be held April 7-8 in Scottsdale, Ariz., at the Talking Stick Golf Club.
Gonzaga will again host the Bandon Dunes Championship this season. The event will take place March 9-11 in Bandon, Ore., at the Pacific Dunes Course.
The WCC Championship will close out the regular season for the Bulldogs. The championship, in which Gonzaga finished a program-best tied for third in 2012, is set for April 14-16 at the Olympic Course - Gold Mountain in Bremerton, Wash. It will be the second-straight year the championship is held in Bremerton.
The Bulldogs return five of six players from last season, including reigning WCC Freshman of the Year Sean Walsh and All-WCC honoree James Fahy, who placed second at the WCC Championship a season ago. The Zags add two incoming players in Sean Carlino and Charles Gal.
"Having one more player on the roster than we did last year will increase the competition to make the travel squad," explained Gray. "I know the returners are very excited to get the season going after the success from last season and the incoming players are very excited to contribute towards building the program."
