Experienced Coug Squad Ready for 2021

PULLMAN, Wash. – The Washington State women's golf team is eager to return to the course after having its season cut short a year ago, and for good reason. The Cougars return a heap of experience in 2021 and they look to make noise in the Pac-12 Conference this spring.

Washington State enters its 12th season under the direction of Kelli Kamimura, and the head coach is thrilled to get her team back onto the greens after having the 2020 season cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It has been so exciting to be back together again as a team practicing and preparing for competition," Kamimura expressed. "Throughout the last 10 months, we have put our energy towards what we can do during each phase of COVID, while remaining connected as a team, even when we had players all over the world."

The head coach has ample reason to be excited about the upcoming spring season, as Washington State returns five golfers who competed in five-or-more tournaments from a season ago.

"Although everything looks a little different this year with COVID protocols, the team has remained optimistic and focused on what is ahead," said Kamimura. "Every day is an opportunity to grow and get better individually and together."

Four of WSU's returning golfers played in all seven tournaments last season. Fifth-year senior Marie Lund-Hansen leads the way for the Cougars, as she returns to Washington State, opting into another season in Pullman after having her initial senior year cut short due to the stoppage of play throughout the NCAA last spring.

Lund-Hansen looks to build off a strong 2020 season, as she led the team in scoring average at 73.11 strokes per round. The Aabenraa, Denmark native ended her 2020 spring season on a high note, as she shared the individual title with teammate Amy Chu at the Meadow Club Collegiate on March 10 to help the Cougars to earn a second-place finish as a team at the tournament. Lund-Hansen posted three top-five finishes from a season ago, and carded par-or-better in a team-best nine rounds to help Washington State collect five top-10 team finishes during the 2020 campaign.

Chu, a junior from Sydney, Australia, collected four top-50 finishes a season ago, which included her individual title at Meadow Club Collegiate. The junior posted four rounds of par-or-better last year, while she held a scoring average of 75.94 per round. Fellow Aussie, Darcy Habgood also returns to the fold for Washington State. The junior-to-be from Nambucca Head, Australia had two top-10 finishes a year ago, while she was second on the team in scoring average at 73.88 per round.

Redshirt senior Emily Baumgart, who was named the Washington Women's Golfer of the Year by Washington Golf, junior Cameron March and sophomore Jiye Ham round out the group of returners for WSU this season.

"I'm looking forward to this team building off of all of their individual and collective improvements over the last year and coming together as a team," said Kamimura. "We have a very competitive and exciting schedule this Spring. look forward to embracing every opportunity we have to compete together."

Washington State gets the 2021 spring season started this Monday, Feb. 8, at the Lamkin Invitational at the Farms Golf Club in San Diego, California. Monday's season-opener kicks off a seven-tournament spring schedule for WSU that concludes at the 2021 Pac-12 Women's Golf Championship on April 23-25. This year's Pac-12 Championship will be hosted by Stanford University and takes place at the Stanford Golf Club.

"We are all so excited to be able to compete together again," stated Kamimura. "I think we are looking forward to every opportunity to compete equally. No matter what tournament we are at, we will all be grateful that we are getting the opportunity to compete as a team, together. It has been a long 10 months and the players have worked hard to be as prepared as they can be for our upcoming tournament schedule."

Stay up-to-date on all the latest information on the Washington State men's golf team by following WSU Women's Golf on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.