Women's Golf | February 23, 2017
RIO VERDE, Ariz. – The Western Michigan golf team heads out west to Rio Verde Country Club in Rio Verde, Ariz., to host the 2017 Rio Verde Invitational beginning on Friday.
The 19-team field will tackle the club's White Wing course. The course, which also hosted the 2016 Rio Verde Invitational, measures out at 6,215 yards and is a par 72. In addition to the Broncos, the field consists of Akron, Arkansas Little Rock, Arkansas State, Ball State, Bowling Green, Bradley, Central Arkansas, Central Michigan, Illinois State, Missouri State, Northern Illinois, Northern Arizona, Ohio, Seton Hall, UMKC and Wichita State. Central Arkansas holds to the top GolfStat ranking among the field, currently sitting at 77th. The Broncos are the second highest-ranked team at 129th.
WMU, who hosts the tournament for the 15th time, is in the midst of a great season under first-year head coach Elise Swartout-Mosher. The Broncos have finished in the top five of every tournament they have competed in this season, including finishing strong to take fifth overall at the Mid-American Conference Match Play Challenge
"We rebounded very nicely after our start at the MAC Match Play," said Swartout-Mosher. "Given the unseasonably warm weather in Michigan the last week, we have really been able to get some great outdoor practice in leading up to Rio Verde. I know this team is prepared for this week, after learning so much in Florida. I am looking forward to a great event, especially for our seniors Kaitlyn and Anna's last Rio Verde tournament."
Last season Kaitlyn Watkins was WMU's second finisher, tying for 36th after shooting a three-round total of 228 (+12). Anna Wilcoxson missed the tournament due to injury. Not too long ago Swartout-Mosher was competing in the tournament but heads into this weekend for the first time as a head coach.
"It is amazing for me to be back in Rio Verde as a coach now," Swartout-Mosher added. "I never thought that I would be lucky enough to re-live some of my greatest collegiate golf moments that I had here at Rio Verde and now I get to. I am so grateful to be here and have such a wonderful team of girls to experience it with."
Last year's tournament was won by Toledo with a three-round score of 885 (+21). Individually Hanna Lee from Xavier finished in the medalist spot after fending off Sathika Ruenreong from Toeldo and Caroline Boone from Missouri State on the final day. Lee finished with a 217 (+1), just one stroke ahead of Ruenreong and two ahead of Boone. Boone, a red-shirt senior, is the highest finisher to return for the 2017 tournament.
Practice rounds take part on Thursday, while the tournament officially starts on Friday and runs through Sunday. Live scoring is available via GolfStat.com.
