Women's Golf Ready for a Full Slate of Tournaments this Fall

PULLMAN, Wash. – A clean bill of health and a full slate of tournaments await the Washington State women's golf team this fall, as the Cougars head into a new season looking to get back into a regular routine after enduring an abbreviated spring campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

WSU endured its fair share of unfortunate events last season that resulted in the Cougars being able to only field a full team in three of its scheduled tournaments. Washington State looks to turn the page this fall, as they return a heap of experience, while welcoming in some talented newcomers.

"We're really looking forward to a new season," said head coach Kelli Kamimura, who enters her 13th season as WSU head coach. "We have four newcomers this season and it's just been awesome to have a team together and ready to compete. We've started the year with a great team retreat to learn more about who we are and what we want as a team. I really think that helped us bond and get ready to go and compete together."

Despite not being able to field a full team during some weeks last spring, the Cougars never canceled any of their scheduled tournaments. Instead, they sent their available golfers to play as individuals to represent WSU. The resilience her team displayed in the spring has continued in the fall stated Kamimura, and it has her excited to see her squad to compete at full strength.

"I think that whole experience (of last season) made us tougher," expressed the head coach. "Resiliency is one of the values we talk about within our program. After finishing the season, we looked back at what we had gone through and what we learned. We really have to work on our mindset. This year our theme is Decisive Versus Right. That means to choose to be extraordinary everyday in whatever it is we are doing."

Washington State returns an ample amount of experience this fall with five upperclassmen on the roster. Seniors Amy Chu, Darcy Habgood and Cameron March have all played in nine-or-more tournaments during their Coug career. Junior Jiye Ham also returns to the fold for WSU this fall, after playing in four tournaments last spring.

"Our returners add such a great leadership component to our team," Kamimura expressed. "They're experienced, love being Cougs and love this team. When you have that combination, it's awesome to see as a coach. Every practice they have captain's time, where they really focus on working together and performing the best that they can."

Chu played in all six tournaments a season ago, posting a stroke average of 77.72. The Sydney, Australia native has one individual win in her WSU career, winning the 2020 Meadow Club Collegiate. Habgood is coming off an injury-shortened 2021 spring campaign, where she only appeared in two tournaments. Now fully healthy, Habgood had a remarkable summer which saw her qualify for the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship in August. Meanwhile, March is coming off a spring season which saw her compete in a career-best four tournaments for WSU.

Washington State will also have four players on its roster who will be making their WSU debut. Senior Jessie Lin and redshirt freshman Jinyu Wu return to the Cougs after sitting out last season, while freshmen Emily Cadwell and Madelyn Gamble will suit up for WSU for the first time this fall. As prep players, Cadwell won multiple Idaho state championships at Boise High School, while Gamble was the 2019 Junior Tour of Northern California Girls' Player of the Year.

Washington State will play in four tournaments this fall, starting with the Badger Invitational in Madison, Wisconsin, Sept. 19-21. The Cougars will then play in the GolfWeek Conference Challenge, Sept. 27-29 in Wolcott, Colorado. WSU continues its fall schedule in October at the Stanford Intercollegiate, Oct. 15-17, before wrapping up with the Pac-12 Preview in Kona, Hawai'i Nov. 1-3.

For more information on the Washington State women's golf team, follow @WSUCougarWGolf on Twitter and @WSUWomensGolf on Instagram.