Fresno State Athletics
Women's Golf Prepares For WAC Championship
4/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
April 22, 2006
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State women's golf team competes in the Western Athletic Conference Championship tournament Monday through Wednesday at Coyote Creek Golf Club in San Jose, Calif.
The Bulldogs' lineup consists of Laura Luethke, Jennifer Shipley, Adrianna Chico, Taylor Siebert and Brittany Cooley.
Luethke, who leads the Bulldogs with a 74.96 scoring average, won the San Jose State Invitational in March and has five top-10 finishes so far. Injury caused Shipley to miss the Peg Bernard Invitational, but she has proven to be an integral part of the team while emerging as the team's No. 2 golfer. Chico has been a consistent presence in the team's lineup, and Siebert had an impressive fall season that included three top-15 finishes in her first collegiate tournaments. Cooley has earned a spot to compete for Fresno State in all but one spring event.
At last year's tournament, Fresno State finished fourth in only its first year as a program. The Bulldogs also placed two golfers in the top 10 in Luethke (fourth) and Meggie Fagundes (10th). Luethke earned Freshman of the Year and first-team all-WAC honors on the tournament's final day, and head coach Angie Cates was also named Coach of the Year.
The departure of Tulsa, who won its seventh-straight championship in 2005, guarantees a new champion this year. Host San Jose State, who took second last year, is the top returning squad in the seven-team field. The Spartans are paired with Fresno State for the first round and look to be the Bulldogs' toughest competition.
"We are really looking forward to competing," said Cates. "We had a good week of practice and are playing well. It is nice to have Jennifer back in the lineup. We are taking five good players who have all had lots of tournament experience this spring and know what it takes to win."
The par-72 Tournament Course at Coyote Creek Golf Club, a Jack Nicklaus design, will play at 6,143 yards. One round will be played each day.
Tee times for Monday's opening round begin at 8 a.m. Live scoring will be available at www.golfstat.com.
