Thirteen Time GPAC Champion DWU women open Thursday

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University men's and women's golf teams tee off for the first time in 2016-17 at the Mount Marty Invite at Fox Run Golf Course and Hillcrest Country Club Friday and Saturday in Yankton, S.D.

After winning its eighth straight and 13^th overall Great Plains Athletic Conference title last season, the DWU women's golf team will hope to continue its winning ways in the 2016-17 season. Head coach Chris Gomez enters his second year as the DWU men's and women's golf coach, after coaching the teams previously for three seasons from 2001-2004. Gomez knows he will need to rebuild after graduating his top three golfers from a year ago, including four-time GPAC Golfer of the Year Lauren Fitts.

"I will have to start rebuilding as I once did in 2001," Gomez said. "The foundation of the 2016 women is ambitious, eager to learn and grow the team into what it has always been at DWU. I will continue to recruit those that strive for excellence."

Sophomore Nicole Nelson (Platte, S.D.) begins her second season with the Tigers as the lone returner. Nelson's best finish was on April 13 at the GPAC Qualifier No. 3 when she finished in a tie for 18^th place. Upton, Wyo., product Emily Sharkey will be counted as an immediate contributor to the Tiger golf team in her freshman campaign. Sharkey earned four-varsity letters for the Upton Bobcats, while placing fourth at the 2015 Wyoming 2A State Golf Meet.

Transfer Madison VanWalleghen enters her first season with the Tigers. VanWalleghen, a former Mitchell Kernel, played her first year of collegiate golf at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. The Letcher, S.D., native, participated in golf for five seasons with the Kernels, earning four-varsity letters. She had a fifth-place finish at the Hub City Invitational in 2014.

The first GPAC qualifier will take place Oct. 3-4 at the Willow Run Golf Course in Sioux Falls, S.D.  The format for GPAC Qualifiers has been altered in 2016-17, with two, two-day events, one in the fall and the other in the spring. Previously, the GPAC held four, one-round qualifiers throughout the year to determine a champion.