The Fresno State women’s golf team tees off the 2014-2015 season at the Ptarmigan Ram Classic hosted by Colorado State at the Ptarmigan Country Club in Fort Collins, Colorado, Monday and Tuesday.
“As we head into the Ptarmigan Ram Classic, the team is definitely going to be focusing on keeping things simple,” second-year head coach Emily Milberger said. “This season, we have a lot of things we want to achieve such as breaking even more personal records, clinching individual and team tournament wins.
“Of course, we all have our eyes on the Mountain West Championship in April.”
The ‘Dogs finished off the 2013-2014 season strongly. They recorded ties and record breakings, individual victories and postseason successes, most notably from senior Madchen Ly and sophomore Gudrun Björgvinsdóttir.
Ly was picked in the All- Conference Mountain West Second Team and was selected to compete in the NCAA West Regional Championship last May.
“Madchen Ly is coming off an exciting and solid summer of tournament golf,” Milberger said. “I know she has been knocking on the door for a collegiate victory, and she’s one to watch for in the winners circle all year long.”
Björgvinsdóttir won the Mountain West Championship as a freshman, the fourth freshman in Mountain West history to claim the title and the third Bulldog in program history to claim a conference title. She was also selected to the All-Conference Mountain West Second Team with Ly.
Over the summer, Björgvinsdóttir was selected to represent her home country of Iceland at the International Golf Federation’s 26th Annual World Amateur Team Championship from Sept. 2-7.
“Gudrun has, like many of her teammates, had a great summer of golf and is ready to kick off this season following her return from the World Amateur,” Milberger said. “Coming off her April victory at the Mountain West Championship, I know Gudrun is looking to clinch another tournament victory, and I know she is going to play a major role in this year’s team’s success.”
Milberger has added two freshmen to the Bulldog lineup in Mimi Ho from Hong Kong and Samantha Spencer from Georgetown, Canada. Milberger said she is thrilled at the addition of the two players and thinks their experience nationally and internationally will make an immediate impact on the team.
Fresno native Hannah Sodersten, a sophomore, is another player to watch out for this season for the ‘Dogs.
“I’m proud of Hannah and all her summer achievements,” Milberger said. “She has put in a lot of time and energy shaping up her game this summer, and she has all the talent and abilities to make a huge mark on this program.”
Milberger is confident in her team moving forward and believes the program will have a successful year.
“Overall, as a program, we have had some great summer months of golf, and I know that each player on this roster can make a splash on the course. The season is going to be packed with successes, both individually and as a team, and it’s going to be fun to watch from the front row.”
After the Ptarmigan Ram Classic, the team heads to Minnesota from Sept. 15-16 to compete in the Minnesota Invitational. The Bulldogs will be returning to play their only tournament in the Valley from Oct. 6-7, competing in the Fresno State Classic at the San Joaquin Country Club.
