The Western Washington University Men’s Golf program is set to open the 2020-21 season next week, beginning a five-tournament spring schedule.
WWU Director of Golf Luke Bennett has announced the four-tournament regular-season slate that leads up to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships that are scheduled for April 19-20 at The Home Course in DuPont, Washington.
The Vikings, located in Bellingham Washington, are the defending GNAC Champions, taking home their ninth team title in the 12 years of championship history in 2019. There was not a conference tournament last spring after a majority of the spring season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The wait has only made the guys more anxious and thrilled to compete,” said Bennett, who is in his eighth year leading the program after an All-American career with the Vikings. “The guys have been working hard and staying healthy. We lost some key pieces from when we last competed for the conference title, but having veteran leaders like Brody (Bonfilio) and Jordan (Lee) is key. I also know their teammates are ready to take a step forward and I look forward to an exciting spring.”
WWU’s tournament slate begins next week (March 8-9) with the Nighthawks Invitational, hosted by Northwest Nazarene University at Poppy Ridge Golf Course in Livermore, California. The season-opening tournament begins Monday (March 8) with 36 holes, and concludes Tuesday with an 18-hole final round. The tournament field includes 13 schools, including GNAC programs NNU, Saint Martin’s and Montana State Billings.
The Vikings will follow the season-opening tournament with a trip to The Home Course for the West Regional Preview March 22-23, hosted by Saint Martin’s University.
The Vikings will then get the chance to compete at one of the premier golf courses in the nation March 29-30 playing in the Redhawk Invitational hosted by Seattle University at Chambers Bay in University Place, the host site of the 2015 U.S. Open.
In the leadup event to the GNAC Championships, WWU will travel to Arizona for the Mustang Intercollegiate hosted by Western New Mexico University April 5-6 at Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear, Arizona.
Following the four-tournament regular season and the GNAC Championships, Western will be aiming for a 22nd consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division II Golf Championships, a streak that currently includes every season the program has competed at the NCAA level. The 2021 West/South Central Super Regional is scheduled for May 6-8 at The Home Course, with the top finishers advancing to the NCAA II National Championships May 17-21 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
