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SPOKANE, Wash.—An experienced Gonzaga University women's golf squad hopes the third time is indeed the charm as the Zags prepare to compete in their third consecutive NCAA Regional tournament May 7-9 at Briggs Ranch Golf Club in San Antonio, Texas.
Gonzaga has four players with previous Regionals experience - only freshman Dania Uy will be making her postseason debut - and three Zags will make their third NCAA appearance. Seniors Han Wu and Alice Kim have both competed at the other two Regionals, and junior Raychelle Santos has made the postseason tournament all three years of her collegiate career. Additionally, sophomore Ciera Min will be making her second trip to an NCAA Regional. That glut of experience leaves Gonzaga head coach Brad Rickel hopeful for a strong performance at this year's tournament.
"The older players have gone throw it and understand it," Rickel said of his experienced club. "The fact they've been to Regionals is a plus. It's not a big deal, it's just another golf tournament and it's another chance to go out and play."
The Zags will send out the same five players that competed at the West Coast Conference Championships in the middle of April, but Rickel has shuffled the lineup a bit. The top of the lineup remains unchanged with Kim and Min remaining in the top two spots and taking the course last and second-to-last, respectively. The two have been the Zags' most consistent golfers throughout the entire year. Min leads the Zags with a 74.00 stroke average - on pace to break the school record of 74.34 - and Kim isn't far behind at 74.24, also below the current record. They both tied for third at the WCC Championships in April - earning All-WCC honors for the achievement - and Min's added four other top-10 finishes while Kim's posted two throughout the year.
"Ciera's had a great year, and I hope she can continue her run if she's healthy this weekend," said Rickel of the sophomore. "I'm really happy for Alice and Han for them to go play another tournament. It's a chance for them to play in Regionals for the third time where all they'll just play their ball with zero pressure. I'm looking forward to seeing how they do."
New for the NCAA Regionals, Wu climbs into third in the Zags' order, a departure from her typical No. 5 spot. Instead of being the first Bulldog out on the course, she'll be a steadying presence in the middle of the order. She returned to the starting lineup at the beginning of the spring season and has played consistent golf since, posting three top 15 finishes in five tournaments. She took seventh at the WCC Championships and earned All-Conference honors as well.
"We typically send Han out first because she gives us good information on the par-3s, but she just needs to move up and play the spot she deserves," Rickel said.
Uy will play the No. 4 spot for Gonzaga, and Santos will now be the first Zag on the course at No. 5. Uy's had a few strong outings during her freshman year while adjusting to college. Her best finish was a tie for 12th where she shot just two strokes over par at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational in September. She was forced to withdraw from the WCC Championship due to injury, but she's healed up and ready to go for the postseason. Santos turned in a terrific fall season, finishing in the top 10 three times, including a tie for third at the season-opening Ptarmigan Ram Classic, but has struggled in the spring. If she can find her fall groove again, she has the skill to be an outstanding contributor from the five spot.
Briggs Ranch Golf Club will be yet another new course for Gonzaga, the Bulldogs' eighth new course of the year. They have just one practice round to figure out the course, but Rickel is looking forward to exploring the Fazio-designed track.
"I've always loved Fazio courses; they're really pretty, just great golf courses, and they're really playable," he said of Briggs Ranch. "I know it is playing a little longer at 6,300 yards [6,350 yards exactly]; I know it has bent greens which is good for us as that's what we putt on. Other than that, it looks like it's a big piece of property so there's enough room to play golf. It's a lot of different than the WCC course, which was super narrow."
The Zags will compete with 15 other teams for a total of six team berths to the NCAA Championships, held May 22-27 in Bradenton, Fla. The top six teams in the San Antonio Regional and the three others throughout the country will earn berths, and the top three individuals not on an advancing team will also head to Florida for the national championship tournament.
Play at the San Antonio Regional will run from Thursday, May 7 to Saturday, May 9 at Briggs Ranch. The Zags will begin day one of the tournament Thursday at 6:24 a.m. Pacific (8:24 a.m. local) when Santos hits the course for GU. Tee times will run every nine minutes.
