KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan golf team opens the 2022-23 season on Sunday at the A-Ga-Ming Invitational, hosted by Central Michigan at the A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort in Kewadin.
 
In addition to the host Chippewas, the Broncos will compete against Eastern Michigan, Chicago State, Green Bay, Oakland and Purdue Fort Wayne. The teams will play 36 holes on Sunday and another 36 on Monday. Live scoring will be available at www.golfstat.com.
 
WMU returns four student-athletes from last year's team, led by senior Alissa Fish. Fish, who graduated early and is now pursuing a graduate degree, had a team-best average of 76.54 in 30 rounds. Fish earned her first collegiate victory, finishing as the individual medalist at EMU's Shirley Spork Invitational last October. She also went on to tie for first at the Braun Intercollegiate, but fall in a three-way playoff. She had three total finishes in the top three and four in the top 10 on the season.
 
Also returning is senior Haley Barclay and sophomores Ally Barth and Madeline Blum. Barth had the third-lowest average on the team in her first collegiate season. She averaged 80.70 through 24 rounds, just .20 behind alumna Brooke Gibbons.
 
Providing depth and competition are four newcomers. Natalie Samdal is a graduate transfer from Davenport University with a best season average of 80.22. A trio of freshmen in Jenna Hayes, Megha Vallabhaneni and Kailey White also join the program. All three bring strong athletic and academic credentials to WMU.
 
Western Michigan is off next week before heading to Muncie, Ind., for the annual Cardinal Classic at The Players Club Sept. 19-20.