RIO VERDE, Ariz. – The Western Michigan golf team welcomes 17 teams to its home away from home, Rio Verde Country Club, for the 20th annual Rio Verde Invitational beginning on Friday.
The tournament shifts the Quail Run Course, where it was last played in 2019. The course for the 18-team tournament measures out to 6,044 yards and has a par of 72. Live scoring will be available at www.golfgenius.com.
The entire field from last season's tournament returns, including reigning champions Kennesaw State. KSU is coached by WMU golf alum Erin Thorne and the Owls won last year by 12 strokes over second place Xavier. Junior Caitlyn Campbell-Nyman from Kennesaw State returns to defend her individual medalist title. The Queensland, Australia, native won by five strokes (-5, 67-72-72=211) over XU's Kara Carter last year. She is looking to join Akron's Danielle Nicholson as the only other repeat champion in the history of the tournament.
Kennesaw State is the top-ranked team in the tournament according to GolfStat.com, coming in at 65th. Xavier is slotted at 69th and California Baptist at 139th. For a full look at the 18-team field and the history of the Rio Verde Invitational, click here.
Western Michigan struggled last season at the Rio Verde, tying for 14th. The Broncos head to Arizona with plenty of momentum, having broken the all-time program 54-hole scoring record to open the spring at the Falcon Florida Classic. WMU combined to shoot an 883, breaking the previous record of 885 set back at the Ball State Cardinal Classic in 2017. Western Michigan opened the tournament with a 298, following it with a 290 and then closing out with a 295. It was just the second time in program history WMU has had three rounds under 300 in a tournament.
The Broncos have finished in fifth place in each of its last three tournaments, dating back to October. Overall, WMU has not finished below fifth in any tournament this season and had a season-best tie for second at the Briar Ridge Invitational, hosted by Illinois-Chicago, back in September.
