Bruins to Open Spring Play in Arizona After All in “Shoot-Out at Aguila” March 4-5

NEWBERG, Ore. – After opting out of the Red Rock Invitational that was supposed to have opened the spring portion of their 2010-11 women’s golf season on Feb. 26-27 in Sedona, Ariz., the George Fox University Bruins have found another Arizona tournament with which to begin the spring - only in a warmer, dryer part of the state.

The Bruins will now take part in the “Shoot-Out at Aguila” on Friday-Saturday, March 4-5, at the Aguila Golf Club in Laveen, Ariz., about five miles southwest of downtown Phoenix.  The eight-team tournament is being hosted by Lewis University, an NCAA Division II team from Romeoville, Ill., a suburb of Chicago.  Among the other teams that will be competing are Pomona-Pitzer Colleges, like George Fox a Division III school; Western New Mexico University, which is ranked in the top 20 in D-II; and l’Universite de Montreal, a Canadian team.

“We are excited that Lewis University gave us this last minute invitation to their event,” said George Fox coach MaryJo McCloskey.  “Although it is not as large of a field as the Red Rock Invitational in terms of number of teams, it will still include eight teams, and will be a great competition for us.  We will also be able to get three rounds in, including our practice round, based on the latest weather forecast - much warmer and less snowy than Sedona!  We are anxious to get out there and get our spring season going.”

George Fox is ranked 13th with 284 points in the Golf World / National Golf Coaches Association first spring poll of Feb. 23.  The Bruins are the defending Northwest Conference co-champions, and are off to a good start for the 2010-11 conference season after winning the NWC Fall Classic back in October.