Aug. 4, 2015 SPOKANE, Wash.--Gonzaga University women's golf head coach Brad Rickel announced the Bulldogs' 2015-16 schedule Tuesday, putting together a tough slate to prepare the squad for a possible fourth consecutive NCAA appearance.
While last year's schedule was full of new tournaments, the team will see a few more familiar courses during the 2015-16 season. The Zags have played in six of the eight regular season tournaments on the upcoming docket, including four repeats from the 2014-15 slate.
"Last year we were trying to learn a new golf course during virtually every event we played. This year, we've seen the course in more than half our tournaments; that should help us in every way," said Rickel. "It remains a very positive and strong schedule, and the new additions are great tournaments. We're looking forward to getting back to those six we've seen and trying to be better."
Three of the Zags' four fall tournaments are repeats from last year, including the season-opening Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M. The New Mexico-hosted tournament will run Sept. 14-16 on the University of New Mexico Golf Course. Last year, the Zags made their debut in the tournament with current sophomore Dania Uy tying for 12th, her best finish during her rookie slate.
After a three-week break, the Zags will cross the mountains for two consecutive tournaments, playing at the Edean Ihalnfeldt Invitational at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Wash., Oct. 6-7 and the Pat Lesser Harbottle Invitational at Tacoma Country Club Oct. 12-13. In each of the last five years, the Zags have participated in the Edean Ihlanfeldt, finishing a program-best fourth last season. The UW-hosted event has taken place at Sahalee, home of the 1998 PGA Championship, since 2011. A week later, Gonzaga will make its debut at the Seattle U-hosted Pat Lesser Harbottle Invite, a second-year event held in Lakewood, Wash.
Two weeks later, Gonzaga will wrap up the fall season with a return trip to UNLV's Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown, held at Boulder Creek Golf Club Oct. 25-27. Last year, the Bulldogs made their debut at the tournament with Ciera Min and Raychelle Santos each tying for eighth at even-par 216. Last year's edition of the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown saw a loaded field with 10 teams in Golf Stat's Top 75.
Opening up the spring slate, the Zags will return to The Gold Rush after a year hiatus from the event. Hosted by Long Beach State, The Gold Rush will be held at Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach, Calif. Feb. 22-23. This will be the Zags' fourth appearance in the tournament. A couple of weeks later, the Zags will head to northern California for the Bay Area Intercollegiate, their second straight appearance in the event.
Next, Gonzaga will cross part of the Pacific to return to the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational March 22-23, a tournament which the Zags know well but was not on the '14-15 slate. The Zags have played in the Hawaii-hosted event five times in the past and every year between 2010 and 2014. They have a pair of third-place finishes in the Islands with those coming in 2012 and 2013.
To round out the regular season, the Bulldogs will return to northern California for the Silverado Showdown, co-hosted by Oregon and Colorado. The tournament, which has drawn tough fields in the first two years of its existence, will take place on the North Course of the Silverado Resort at Napa Valley in Napa, Calif. It is the Zags' second and final new tournament of the season.
"New Mexico, Washington, and UNLV in the fall are really strong golf tournaments on great golf courses," Rickel said. "They're exactly what we want: to play against the best and to have a strong schedule. We also added the Oregon tournament in Napa that will have a great field as well."
On April 18-20, Gonzaga will once again return to the Bay Area for the West Coast Conference Championship, held at Black Hawk Country Club in Danville, Calif. The Zags will look to clinch their fourth straight NCAA Regional appearance at the conference event. If they qualify, GU will compete in one of the four NCAA Regionals held May 5-7 at various sites across the country. The NCAA Championship will be held May 21-25 at Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Ore.
Overall, Rickel is excited for the Bulldogs' chance to test themselves on the course while making plenty of time for the student-athletes' coursework.
"We try to do two things: make it the strongest schedule we can, and have it work together to where we can succeed in school as well. It's a very balanced schedule. We rarely have two weeks in a row, so we have time in between to get better and to keep up in school. I really like the schedule this year and how it sets up for us."
