Women's Golf | September 18, 2017

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Elise Swartout-Mosher took the helm for the Western Michigan golf team back on Sept. 16, 2016 and had just a few days to prepare for the team's first meet at Ball State. The Broncos head into their second season under Swartout-Mosher on Monday and once again take part in the Cardinal Classic, but with the rushed start worked out well. The team ended up breaking the single-season lowest team stroke average at 304.5

"Last year was such a learning experience for me," said Swartout-Mosher, the first alum to coach the team in program history. "I had to hit the ground running and my main goal last season was to just get to know my student-athletes and build relationships with them. It was my priority to make them excited to be a Bronco. I wanted them, especially the two seniors, to go out and be proud alums of this program."

Swartout-Mosher's process worked. WMU finished in the top three seven times last season, including tying for third at the Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship. Senior Julia Champion won her first two collegiate tournaments, the Rocket Classic and earning the co-champion spot with teammate sophomore Jasmine Chee at the Silverlake Shootout. Chee went on to be WMU's top finisher at the MAC Championship, finishing tied for fifth and being named to the MAC All-Tournament team.

"I think that we're trying hard not to think about last year and what we did and the records we broke," Swartout-Mosher said. "Absolutely, it was exciting and it was one of those things we weren't expecting. We need to just continue to build off of that success, rather than look at it as something we need to do better than this year."

Junior Claire Hernandez heads into her junior season and is joined by freshmen Cameryn Lucia and Megan Watkins.

"All five have been working very hard over the summer," added Swartout-Mosher. "They've been playing lots of events, practicing, and fine tuning their game to where they want it to be for the first tournament at Ball State."

WMU opens the season at The Players Club Course on Monday as a part of the 21-team tournament. The Broncos get a chance to compete at home when they host the Kzoo Classic on Oct. 1-2 at The Moors Golf Club in Portage, Mich.