Rugged Schedule Awaits Men's Golf For Upcoming Season
7/31/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
SPOKANE, Wash. - Another rugged men's golf schedule faces Gonzaga University this season, but an experienced roster should be up to the task according to head coach Robert Gray as he embarks upon his 16th season at the helm.
"We're very excited for the schedule we have lined up for the coming year. We graduated a solid player in Peter Gullickson, but return the rest of the squad along with exciting new additions," Gray said. "This will be our most experienced roster in quite some time and should help us through our upcoming season in experience and leadership from senior captain James Fahy."
Gray said several players have gained solid experience this summer "with Fahy and Sean Walsh advancing to the US Amateur along with good results from Brendan Connolly, Sean Carlino and incoming freshman Will Brueckner."
The tough campaign begins Sept. 22-23 with the Husky Invitational hosted by the University of Washington at Gold Mountain - Olympic Course in Bremerton, Wash., a course familiar to the upperclassmen as the West Coast Conference Championship has been held there each of the past two seasons.
"Eight of the 15 teams in our first event played in the post-season last year and six finished last season in the top 50 with Washington (8), UCLA (15), New Mexico (23), San Diego State (34), Oregon (37) and BYU (45)," Gray said.
The Bulldogs will play only three fall events, a lighter schedule than past years. Following Washington the Zags will play in The Georgetown Intercollegiate in Beallsville, Md., Oct. 20-21 and the Maui Invitational hosted by the University of Hawai'i Nov. 7-9.
"Our fall schedule is lighter than usual with three events instead of our usual five. This will give the incoming players some time to get situated with all the new changes in their lifestyles and allow us more time between events to prepare," Gray explained.
The Georgetown and Hawai'i events are different this year than in recent years.
"Our remaining two fall events, Georgetown and Hawai'i, are different this year. Georgetown will be a great opportunity for us to compete against teams from the Midwest and eastern United States," Gray noted. "There are 12 teams in the Georgetown field and will take place at the beautiful Club at Four Streams. We played in this event in 2008. We'll finish the fall season at Ka'anapali Golf Course on Maui. Of the 16 teams expected in Hawai'i, six were in the post-season last year including Georgia (5th), Clemson (28th ), Oregon (37th) and North Florida (51st).
The spring season opens at The Prestige at PGA WEST hosted by UC Davis in LaQuinta, Calif., Feb. 16-18, 2015, a new event on the Gonzaga slate.
"Our spring schedule remains the same with the exception of The Prestige. It's our strongest event of the year and the strongest event in program history. Eleven of the 13 teams played in the post-season last year and 10 finished ranked in the top 50 with Stanford (3rd), Oklahoma State (4th), Washington (8th), LSU (11th), UCLA (15th), USC (25th), Arizona State (27th), San Diego State (34th), Texas Tech (35th) and Oregon (37th). In addition, four of them advanced to the final eight for match play at the NCAA Championship. Coming out of our winter break, it will be imperative the guys are ready to play right when they get back for the spring semester," Gray said.
The Snowman Getaway in Goodyear, Ariz., hosted by fellow Jesuit institution Loyola University Maryland will be played Feb. 22-24, 2015, then the Bulldogs return home to host the Bandon Dunes Championship for a sixth straight year in Bandon, Ore., March 13-15.
"This year's event will rotate to the Bandon Dunes Course," Gray said. "Six of the 15 teams finished inside the top 100 in the country last season. This event continues to grow in popularity and is always a great experience for the team to play true links golf in an amazing setting along the Oregon Coast."
The Bulldogs will have their final tune-ups for the WCC Championship at The Duck Invitational at the Eugene, Ore., Country Club March 23-24 and the Wyoming Cowboy Classic at Talking Stick Golf Course in Scottsdale, Ariz., April 6-7.
"We've been to The Duck and Cowboy for a number of years in a row. We always see good competition and the team really enjoys both courses," Gray said.
After two seasons playing the WCC Championship relatively close to home the venue moves to Saticoy Country Club in Somis, Calif., and will be hosted by Pepperdine University.
"For the WCC Championship, we've had a chance to win going into the final round the past two years. With an at-large berth awarded to the winner, this is our biggest event of the season," Gray said. "Winning the WCC Championship is always one of our team goals. If we keep giving ourselves chances to win going into the final round, then we'll achieve that goal."
2015 Gonzaga University Men's Golf Schedule
September
22-23 - Husky Invitational, Bremerton, Wash. (Gold Mountain - Olympic Course).
October
20-21 - The Georgetown Intercollegiate, Beallsville, Md. (The Members Club at Four Streams).
November
7-9 - Maui Invitational, Lahaina, Maui (Ka'anapali Golf Course).
February
16-18 - The Prestige at PGA WEST, LaQuinta, Calif. (PGA WEST Norman Course); 22-24 - Snowman Getaway, Goodyear, Ariz. (Palm Valley Golf Course - hosted by Loyola University Maryland).
March
13-15 - Bandon Dunes Championship, Bandon, Ore. (Bandon Dunes Course); 23-24 - Duck Invitational, Eugene, Ore. (Eugene Country Club).
April
6-7 - Cowboy Classic, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Talking Stick Golf Course - hosted by University of Wyoming); 14-16 - WCC Championship, Somis, Calif. (Saticoy Country Club - hosted by Pepperdine University).
