Colorado University Athletics
Women's Golf Opens 2015-16 Season at Minnesota Invitational
September 13, 2015 | Women's Golf
BOULDER – The University of Colorado women's golf team is set to open its 2015-16 season in Minneapolis this week at the Minnesota Invitational, Monday, Sept. 14 – Tuesday, Sept. 15.
The two-day, 56-hole meet hosted by the University of Minnesota will be played at the Minikahda Club and feature 12 teams. Along with CU, and Minnesota, the other 10 schools competing are defending tournament champion East Carolina, GRU Augusta, Houston, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Kent State, Purdue and TCU.
Colorado head coach Anne Kelly enters her 19th season guiding the Buffaloes as the team looks to build on its program-best fifth place finish in the Pac-12 Championships and second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Regional last year. CU returns all eight golfers from its 2014-15 squad and also welcomes two freshmen standouts, who had stellar high school careers — Lauryn Keating from Elma, Wash. and the younger sister of Alexis Keating, a senior on the team and Colorado native Gillian Vance.
Junior Esther Lee is back for her second year as a Buff after an impressive, record-setting debut season. In 2014-15, Lee anchored the team with a 73.03 stroke average, a program-best mark in the sophomore record book and her 10 top 20 finishes tied for second most all-time in a single season. Alexis, a three-time letterwinner who has played an important role in the Buffaloes' rotation each of her first three years also returns along with seniors Megan Haase, Jamie Oleksiew and Allie Zech, junior Natalie Vivaldi, redshirt sophomore Tori Glenn and sophomore Brittany Fan.
The Buffaloes had a strong showing at this tournament last season, finishing in second place. Fan, Lee, Vivaldi, Zech and Alexis will contribute toward the team scoring and Lauryn will make the trip and compete as an individual.
“Four out of the top five have seen the golf course, so I think that helps,” said Kelly. “Last year we had a decent fall, but getting off to a good start always helps and we're looking forward to building on the momentum from last spring, especially from the Pac-12 Championships.”
In preparation for the season's first meet, the team spent last weekend together in Grand Lake, Colo. where they played a couple qualifying rounds at Grand Lake Golf Course and Granby Ranch. They also enjoyed some time kayaking and paddle boarding.
Colorado will play a practice round on the par-72, 6,119 yard course Sunday before the tournament gets underway on Monday. Live scoring will be available at golfstat.com.
