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NEWBERG, Ore. – Despite losing three
stalwarts to graduation, including the program’s first
All-American, Brianna Nap, the George Fox University Bruins hope to
make it back to the NCAA Division III Women’s Golf National
Championship Tournament for the third straight year in 2011-12 with
a balance of veterans and rookies.
“That’s our goal,” says sixth-year head coach
MaryJo McCloskey, who has led the Bruins to a 218-88-1 record in
five seasons, two Northwest Conference titles, and two NCAA
appearances. “We lost three strong players in Bri,
Mandy Cameron, and Sarah Askin who will be hard to replace, but our
foundation is solid with the return of four juniors, which include
an All-American, an All-Conference, and two other seasoned
players. We are also added four new freshmen. I think
this team will get better and better each week, and I’m
excited about our potential”
The Bruins’ returning players and recently-developed
reputation have earned them a No. 11 ranking in the Golf
World / National Golf Coaches Association pre-season
poll. George Fox, which finished 12th in last year’s
national tournament, received 336 points in the poll.
Methodist University, which won its 14th straight national
championship last spring, is the unanimous No. 1 pick.
Leading the hopeful Bruins into the new season will be
Kelsey Morrison (Jr., Yucca Valley, Calif. /
Joshua Springs Christian HS), who earned NCAA Second Team
All-America, All-West Region, and All-Conference honors in 2011 and
finished 11th as an individual in the NCAA National Championship
Tournament.
Also back after seeing extensive action last year are
Jill Westendorf (Jr., Redmond, Ore. / Redmond HS),
who was an All-Conference player for the first time, Abby
Mann (Jr., Medford, Ore. / North Medford HS), and
Lanee Danforth (Jr., Bend Ore. / Bend HS), who saw
limited action last year but appears ready for a breakout
season. Says McCloskey of the team’s longest driver,
“Lanee worked hard during the summer and has made some
dramatic changes in her game that will make her a significant
contributer this year.”
Joining the Bruins this season are four talented newcomers:
Laura Haun (Fr., Weiser, Idaho / Weiser HS),
Whitney Jammerman (Fr., Snohomish, Wash. / Glacier
Peak HS), Loreece Magsanide (Fr., Ewa Beach,
Hawai’i / James Campbell HS), and Megan
McGrew (Fr., Yolo, Calif. / Woodland Christian HS).
“All four young ladies did quite well in their respective
state high school state tournaments, and I have been impressed with
all of them this fall,” says McCloskey. “I really
like this freshman class and I believe that once they get
comfortable, they’re going to make a huge impact for
us.”
The young Bruins will get a stern test in this first match of
the season as they travel to Notre Dame, Ind., to play in the
prestigious O’Brien National Invitational Tournament and St.
Mary’s College on Sunday-Monday, Sept. 11-12, at the Warren
Golf Course.
“The O’Brien is a 10-team tournament that features
all nationally-ranked teams - Methodist, Washington U, Eau Claire,
Gustavus Adolphus, Centre, DePauw, Allegheny, Baldwin-Wallace, and
St. Mary’s,” observes McCloskey. “We will
be one of the few teams who hasn’t played in a tournament yet
this season, but our qualifying rounds should help; as the ladies
had to compete hard for the six spots we can take to the tournament
and all of them came ready to play and competed hard for those
spots. The O’Brien will be a good test for us, and we
are really excited to get going.”
The Bruins have four other fall events, including their own
Culturame Classic which will held this year at The Reserve
Vineyards and Golf Club in Aloha, Ore., on Oct. 14-15. The
Northwest Conference Fall Classic, which counts as one quarter of
the overall score toward the conference championship, is set for
Oct. 22-23 at the Heron Lakes Golf Course in Portland, Ore.
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