Spring Preview: Men's and Women's Golf

The Grand Canyon University men's and women's golf teams are set to open the spring slate of their 2013-14 schedules, as both compete in preparation to participate in their first-ever Western Athletic Conference Championship. The women's championship will actually be played in Mesa, Ariz., on April 25-27 at the Longbow Golf Club. The men will travel to Las Vegas, Nev., to compete in their conference championship tournament on May 2-4 at the Stallion Mountain Golf Club.

The men get underway this Monday and Tuesday at the Anteater Invitational at the Mesa Verde Golf Club in Irvine, Calif., the first of six spring tournaments for the Antelopes' men.

GCU will play five of their six regular-season tournaments in the state of California, with their lone appearance in Arizona slated for March 20-22 at the Desert Shootout hosted by Kansas State University at the Palm Valley Country Club in Goodyear.

Following the Anteater Invitational, GCU will participate in the Folino Invitational at the Industry Hills Golf Club on Feb. 16-18 in City of Industry, Calif., the 18^th Del Walker Intercollegiate at the Virginia Country Club on March 3-4 in Long Beach, Calif., the Fresno State Lexus Golf Classic at the San Joaquin Country Club on March 10-11 in Fresno, Calif., the Desert Shootout, and the Winchester Classic at the Winchester Country Club on April 18-20 in Meadow Vista, Calif.

The men won their first-ever Division I tournament, taking home the top spot at the UNO Maverick Invitational on Oct. 7-8 in Omaha, Neb. Earlier in the season, the squad finished third at the Jim Colbert Intercollegiate on Sept. 30-Oct. 1 in Manhattan, Kan., and fifth at the Charles Coody West Texas Intercollegiate in Abilene, Texas, on Sept. 9-10.

Alec Dahlquist had a strong fall season for the 'Lopes, picking up two top-10 finishes. Hayden Webb was impressive in a second-place effort at the UNO Invitational, while newcomer Anthony Maccioli will get his first experience with the GCU squad in the spring.

"We are looking forward to the spring because we are playing a really good schedule," said head coach Mark Mueller. "The competition will be really tough, which will be a lot of fun for the team. You also can't beat playing in the weather in California and Arizona and against the teams we will see. I know that we are all looking forward to that. I expect nothing but the best and our guys have been working hard, so we will see how this first tournament in Irvine plays out. I am excited to watch Alec playing in his last semester for GCU and to see how Anthony can play. He played very well in qualifying and it will be fun to see him in these tournaments. Overall, this is going to be a great time to be a GCU golfer."

The GCU women's golf team will open up their spring schedule in Broussard, La., where McNeese State is hosting the Le Triomphe Invitational on Feb. 9-11. Four tournaments will make up the spring season for the 'Lopes before the WAC Championship in April.

After traveling to Louisiana, the 'Lopes will return home to host the GCU Invitational on Feb. 23-25 at the Wigwam Gold Golf Course in Litchfield Park. The team will stay in-state for their next matchup as they head to Sedona for the Red Rocks Invitational, hosted by Northern Arizona University at the Oak Creek Country Club on March 1-2.

The final tournament of the regular season will be the Jackrabbit Invitational hosted by South Dakota State on March 16-18 in Las Vegas, Nev., at the Primm Valley Golf Club.

The 'Lopes had three fourth-place finishes in their five fall tournaments, doing so at the Hobble Creek Invitational on Sept. 9-10 in Springville, Utah, at the Bronco Fall Classic on Sept. 16-17 in Kuna, Idaho, and at the SCU Colby Invitational on Oct. 21-22 in Santa Clara, Calif.

In recognition of her strong performance throughout the fall, Charlotte Jaengkit was selected as the WAC Golfer of the Month for October. She was the first member of the team selected for the honor after winning individual medalist honors at the Rainbow Wahine Invitational on Oct. 29-31. Jaengkit had four top-10 finishes in five fall tournaments after placing second at the Hobble Creek Invite, third at the Challenge at Onion Creek in San Marcos Texas from Sept. 30-Oct. 1, and eighth at the SCU Colby Invite.

Emily Kaye posted a top-10 finish after tying for eighth place at the SCU Colby Invitational with teammate Jaengkit.

"The women's golf team has been working hard after a disappointing fall season," said head coach Don Powers. "We lost two key players in the fall and are trying to replace them. I have been impressed with how hard everyone is working with the goal of getting back in the winner's circle this coming spring. We had such a great run in 2012-13, winning six tournaments, finishing second in two other tournaments out of 13 teams, and taking fifth at the NCAA National Championships. I believe in this team and I know their hard work will pay off."

Grand Canyon University Athletics

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