GCU'S STROLE NAMED TICKETSMARTER WOMEN'S GOLFER OF THE WEEK
Grand Canyon's Carly Strole has been named TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Women's Golfer of the Week for March 31 through April 6.
Strole, a freshman from Avondale, Ariz., captured medalist honors in a strong field at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational. She was the only player in the field to record under par rounds in each trip around UNM Championship Golf Course. The freshman from Avondale led the field in par-5 scoring (9 under par) and par-4 scoring (4 under par). She led the Lopes to a fourth-place finish, finishing ahead of programs like No. 47 New Mexico, conference rival NM State, No. 22 Arizona and Kansas State.
Other nominees: California Baptist's Sofia Chabon was the top finisher for CBU at the Bobcat Desert Classic, taking third with a 3-under-par 141 … Seattle U's Samantha Bruce took medalist honors at the Bobcat Desert Classic, shooting a 6-under-par 138 … Tarleton's Junie Khaw led the Texans with a second-place finish at the Oral Roberts Spring Invitational, shooting a 9-over-par 222 … Utah Valley's Victoria Estrada tied for sixth place at the Bobcat Desert Classic with an even-par 144.
ON THE TEE
It's time to hand out the trophy as the WAC Championship begins on Monday at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nev. Grand Canyon and NM State look to be the favorites to win the team title with several golfers coming to Nevada with a chance to win the individual title.
BY THE NUMBERS
Individually, GCU's Lani Luafalealo has the lead in individual stroke average at 73.5 per round. Seattle U's Samantha Bruce is second at 73.8, followed by CBU's Sofia Chabon in third at 74.0. As a team, Grand Canyon has the lead with a 297.1 average. California Baptist and Seattle U are tied for second a 298.9.
Siripatsorn Patchana holds the lead in individual stroke average at 73.7 per round and teammate Lani Luafalealo and Payton Fehringer are second and third respectively at 74.1 and 74.5. As a team, Grand Canyon leads the way with a 298.2 average. California Baptist is second at 300.2 and Seattle U is third at 300.3.
IT'S BIGGER IN TEXAS (AND UTAH)
On Jan. 14, the WAC announced the addition of five new schools in the upcoming years. Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin and Southern Utah were all offered and accepted membership invitations. With the addition, the WAC will have six schools in Texas, more than any other conference in the country, and three schools in Utah, also a national best. The four Texas schools will join the league on July 1, 2021 and Southern Utah will follow 365 days later, officially joining the WAC on July 1, 2022.
WAC CHAMPIONSHIP TO BE PLAYED IN NEVADA
The 2021 WAC Women's Golf Championship will be played at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nev. Made up of three nine-hole courses, the course is considered by many to be one of the top municipal golf courses in the country. Scenic vistas, cool creeks, colorful wildflowers, and smooth beach bunkers add to the lure of this unique golf course.