Sept. 9, 2010
SEATTLE -- This week not only marks the return of Husky Football to Seattle, but it also signifies the return to campus for the Washington women's golf team. Head coach Mary Lou Mulflur welcomed back to school four seniors, a pair of juniors, a sophomore and a trio of freshmen on Monday for the start of orientation and fall practice. The Huskies kick off their season on Sept. 20 at the Washington State Invitational in Pullman, Wash. As with every new season, there is anticipation and anxiety, and for Mulflur -- who is entering her 28th season at the helm for the Huskies -- it never gets old. "I'm really excited," Mulflur said. "It is always fun to start a new year." Leading the way for Washington will be senior Karinn Dickinson, who paced Washington returners with a 76.33 scoring average per round. She had a great fall season as a junior and was on her way to a stellar spring season before a freak injury derailed her season. Dickinson is fully recovered and Mulflur feels she's focused on having a standout end to her career. "Karinn has got a fire lit under her," said Mulflur, "and I think she is really realizing this is it. I think she is like `Wow, I better make the most of the time here.' So, I'm really excited for her because she is tremendously talented." Mulflur is expecting big things from other returners too. Senior Anya Alvarez, juniors Sadena Parks and Darcie Richmond all return after being main contributors in 2009-10. She is hoping that they all can have breakout years along with other returners on the team. "It's time for some people to step up...people that are capable and just haven't done it yet. And it's time for the freshmen to shove their way into the lineup," Mulflur added. "We'll see what happens." The freshman class includes A Ram Choi from Surrey, B.C., Kelli Bowers of Chelan, Wash. and walk-on Keely Lavelle of Shaker Heights, Ohio. Choi was highly-touted out of Canada, while Bowers was a mulit-sport star in high school and should develop throughout her career as she soley focuses on golf. "It's a diverse group of kids that I think they all bring different things to the table," said Mulflur on her freshmen. "I think they'll mesh really well with the older players." It all starts for the Huskies on Sept. 20 at Palouse Ridge in Pullman and the three freshman are not the only ones that will be having first-time experiences at the tournament. Mulflur, despite her previous 27 years as the Husky head coach and playing four years for the UW team, will be making her first-ever trip to Pullman, Wash. The Huskies will follow up the Washington State Invitational by hosting the Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational from Oct. 4-6. That tournament will be held at Tacoma Country Club. Washington will wrap up the fall with the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown (Oct. 25-27) followed by the Pac-10/SEC Challenge (Nov. 5-7) being hosted by Stanford. |
