KALAMAZOO, Mich.– The Western Michigan women's golf team has announced its 2015-16 schedule including four tournaments in the fall and six in the spring.
The Broncos begin the season at Michigan State's Mary Fossum Invitational, Sept. 12-13 in East Lansing, Mich., and follow with Ball State's Cardinal Classic, Sept. 21-22, and the Mid-American Conference Fall Preview at Eastern Michigan on Oct. 11. Western Michigan concludes the fall with the University of Arkansas-Little Rock Golf Classic on Nov. 1.
The Broncos begin their championship spring season at the MAC Match Play Tournament hosted by Bowling Green on Feb. 8-9 before hosting their annual Rio Verde Invitational in Rio Verde, Ariz., for the 14th consecutive year, Feb. 26-28. Following three straight road appearances, WMU heads to Noblesville, Ind., to compete in the MAC Championship hosted by Eastern Michigan, Apr. 22-24.
“It is another exciting time of year and we can't wait to get started at Michigan State,” said second-year head coach
Stacy Snider. “Aside from the freshmen all of our players gained a lot of experience last year in competition and we will continue to build on our success and put ourselves in better position to win.”
Western Michigan made significant and immediate strides in Snider's first year overseeing the program in 2014-15, posting its second-lowest stroke average in school history (308.85).
The Broncos began the fall with their best ever finish at the Michigan State Mary Fossum Invitational and then stormed from four back in the final round of the Cardinal Classic to force a full-team playoff a week later. WMU junior
Chloe Lawrie took home her first career individual title at the Cardinal Classic after finishing one-over par (72-73--145). For the performance, she was selected as the MAC Golfer of the Week.
WMU then made a good run in the first round before carding a respectable seventh-place finish at the highly competitive Nittany Lion Classic, finishing second among MAC teams competing. The Broncos closed out the fall with a runner-up finish at Toledo's Rocket Classic. WMU sophomore
Kaitlyn Watkins shot a team season-best and career round of one-under 71 in the final round (72-75-71) and was tied for first place at the end of regulation play before falling in a three-hole playoff. The Broncos placed two golfers in the top five at the classic and five in the top 15.
During the fall season, Western Michigan shot two rounds under 300, its best a 296 at the Cardinal Classic. It was the program's first round under 300 since the 2010 season and the Broncos' overall total of 598 was its fourth-best 36-hole score in school history.
The Broncos carded yet another round under 300 in the spring, shooting a 298 during a fifth-place finish at the Gary Crossley Ford Shootout. WMU followed with another top-five performance at the Dolores Black Falcon Invitational, placing third. Western Michigan closed out the season with two golfers,
Anna Wilcoxson and
Julia Champion tying for 11th at the 2015 MAC Championship.
At the conclusion of the season, Watkins was named Second Team All-MAC. Both Watkins and Wilcoxson were also named Academic All-MAC.
Western Michigan returns six student-athletes from last year's roster for 2015-16 and welcomes two freshmen.
