Women's Golf | September 18, 2016

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan golf team heads to Ball State to kick off the 2016-17 season at the Cardinal Classic on Monday and Tuesday.

WMU will be one of 15 teams to take part at the three-round tournament at the Players Club in Yorktown, Ind. The Broncos play 36 holes on Monday and follow it up with 18 holes on Tuesday.

This is the first tournament for newly-appointed head coach Elise Swartout-Mosher, who was officially named to the position last week. The Broncos return four players from last season and add freshman Jasmine Chee to the roster. The squad is led by seniors Kaitlyn Watkins and Anna Wilcoxson. Wilcoxson nearly made history last season after finishing with an average round of 75.75, third-best in program history and right behind Swartout-Mosher.

Watkins competed in six tournaments last season, finishing with an average round of 77.76. The 2014 All-MAC selection had a season-best finish of 19th at the Marry Fossum Invitational.

Sophomore Claire Hernandez looks to build upon a strong freshman season that saw her twice finishing in the top 10 at tournaments. At the 2015 Mid-American Conference Fall Preview she finished tied for ninth with a combined 226. She later tied for second at the Bulldog Florida Invitational after shooting a two-round total of 151. Both Wilcoxson and Hernandez finished tied for 15th at the MAC Championship.

Junior Julia Champion had a steady sophomore season with three top-20 finishes and an average round of 77.90. Her best finish came at the Bulldog Florida Invitational, finishing tied for 16th after a two-round total of 161.

The Broncos have a quick turnaround and make their annual trip to East Lansing, Mich., for the Marry Fossum Invitational on Saturday and Sunday.