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/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Women's Golf Announces 2021 Schedule
1/27/2021 11:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
The Minnesota women's golf team will play in four tournaments during the 2021 regular season, head coach Rhyll Brinsmead announced Thursday.
"Close to a year since the shutdown, we are back and more eager than ever to get our spring season started," Brinsmead said. "It has been a whirlwind few weeks starting practice and getting accustomed to the team, but I am so impressed with the overall attitude and focus of the roster. Our team theme is 'gratitude', and the buy-in has been incredible. We have a really special group and I believe we are set to break records this spring!"
The spring season begins at the Heroes Ladies Intercollegiate in Sarasota, Fla. on February 7-9. After a break for the rest of the month, the Gophers return to action on March 15-16 at the Briar's Creek Invitational at Briar's Creek Golf Club in Charleston, S.C. They then close the month out at the Mountain View Invitational at the Mountain View Golf Club in Tucson, Ariz. on March 19-21. Minnesota finishes the regular season on April 17-18 at the Indiana Invitational on Pfau Golf Course at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind.
Postseason play begins with the Big Ten Championship at TPC River's Bend in Maineville, Ohio on April 23-25. NCAA Regionals commence at a location to be determined on May 10-12, while the NCAA Championships are scheduled for May 21-26 at the Grayhawk Golf Club in Phoenix, Ariz.
"Our schedule will pit us against the very best teams in the nation," Brinsmead said. "This is imperative as we need to pick up quality wins all spring to have the best chance at advancing to the NCAA postseason. It is also key that we gauge where we are performance-wise compared to the elite level teams at the D1 level. This is how we improve and dictate our practice to raise our performance levels. With less than two weeks before our first event, which will feature 15 of the strongest teams in the nation, we are focused and ready!"
The Gophers return the top five scorers, including seniors Joanne Free and Kate Lillie. Free led the team in scoring average (75.73) in 2019-20 after competing in four tournaments, all during the fall season. Her best finish of the fall came at the Cardinal Cup at a tie for 26th (73-76-75--224, +8).
Lillie placed 12th (76-69--145, +1) at the Minnesota Invitational and set her new career-best finish. Lillie also secured the best Gopher Fall 2019 scoring average at 75.18.
Sophomore Annabelle Ackroyd finished third on the team in scoring average (76.18) during the 2019-20 season and won her third straight Alberta U19 Championship this summer.
Grace Curran was fourth on the team in scoring average (76.20) after playing in seven tournaments. Curran competed in numerous tournaments over the summer and captured wins at the Golfweek Midwest Collegiate and Minnesota Golf Association Women's Match Play Championship.
Grace Kellar was selected as a Big Ten Golfer to Watch before the start of the 2019-2020 season. She finished fifth for scoring average with a 77.12 and also excelled in the classroom, being named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
Karen Zhang (77.21), Emma Carpenter (77.89) and Jessica Lee (79.50) round out Minnesota's returners from last season.
In addition to the eight returners, the Gophers welcome freshman Kira Wolf in 2021. This is also the first season for the Maroon and Gold under Coach Brinsmead.
"Close to a year since the shutdown, we are back and more eager than ever to get our spring season started," Brinsmead said. "It has been a whirlwind few weeks starting practice and getting accustomed to the team, but I am so impressed with the overall attitude and focus of the roster. Our team theme is 'gratitude', and the buy-in has been incredible. We have a really special group and I believe we are set to break records this spring!"
The spring season begins at the Heroes Ladies Intercollegiate in Sarasota, Fla. on February 7-9. After a break for the rest of the month, the Gophers return to action on March 15-16 at the Briar's Creek Invitational at Briar's Creek Golf Club in Charleston, S.C. They then close the month out at the Mountain View Invitational at the Mountain View Golf Club in Tucson, Ariz. on March 19-21. Minnesota finishes the regular season on April 17-18 at the Indiana Invitational on Pfau Golf Course at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind.
Postseason play begins with the Big Ten Championship at TPC River's Bend in Maineville, Ohio on April 23-25. NCAA Regionals commence at a location to be determined on May 10-12, while the NCAA Championships are scheduled for May 21-26 at the Grayhawk Golf Club in Phoenix, Ariz.
"Our schedule will pit us against the very best teams in the nation," Brinsmead said. "This is imperative as we need to pick up quality wins all spring to have the best chance at advancing to the NCAA postseason. It is also key that we gauge where we are performance-wise compared to the elite level teams at the D1 level. This is how we improve and dictate our practice to raise our performance levels. With less than two weeks before our first event, which will feature 15 of the strongest teams in the nation, we are focused and ready!"
The Gophers return the top five scorers, including seniors Joanne Free and Kate Lillie. Free led the team in scoring average (75.73) in 2019-20 after competing in four tournaments, all during the fall season. Her best finish of the fall came at the Cardinal Cup at a tie for 26th (73-76-75--224, +8).
Lillie placed 12th (76-69--145, +1) at the Minnesota Invitational and set her new career-best finish. Lillie also secured the best Gopher Fall 2019 scoring average at 75.18.
Sophomore Annabelle Ackroyd finished third on the team in scoring average (76.18) during the 2019-20 season and won her third straight Alberta U19 Championship this summer.
Grace Curran was fourth on the team in scoring average (76.20) after playing in seven tournaments. Curran competed in numerous tournaments over the summer and captured wins at the Golfweek Midwest Collegiate and Minnesota Golf Association Women's Match Play Championship.
Grace Kellar was selected as a Big Ten Golfer to Watch before the start of the 2019-2020 season. She finished fifth for scoring average with a 77.12 and also excelled in the classroom, being named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
Karen Zhang (77.21), Emma Carpenter (77.89) and Jessica Lee (79.50) round out Minnesota's returners from last season.
In addition to the eight returners, the Gophers welcome freshman Kira Wolf in 2021. This is also the first season for the Maroon and Gold under Coach Brinsmead.
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