Women's Golf | 04.14.2019

PHOENIX, Ariz. – It may be an adage but the advice nevertheless rings true for Lewis-Clark State's golfers this week as they take on the Frontier Conference in the league championship tournament at Papago Golf Course.
 
"Our goal is to leave it all out on the course and do our best each swing," said first-year coach Kyla Lien, whose players had strong practice rounds over the par-72 course (6,810 yards for the men; 6,031 for the women). "Most importantly, we need to stay in the moment – and have fun."
 
Lien's lineups for the tournament, which runs Monday through Wednesday with 18 holes each day, are a mix of veterans and newcomers.
 
Senior Marissa Louder, who has six top-10 finishes this season included in her 77.57 scoring average, is the veteran of the women's group. She's joined on the Warrior roster by junior college transfers Madilyn Brown, Lauren Hamm, Natalie Gonzales and Megan Gibson. Brown has five top-10 finishes to her credit this year and averages 79.58 strokes per round. Hamm has reached the top 10 twice.
 
"I think this is a good and confident group with the amount of experience they have," Lien said.
 
The men's team includes two juniors – Zach Rawls, a three-year player for the Warriors and JC transfer Justin Cox, along with freshmen Carlos Davila, Caleb Kessler and Devon Caruso.
 
Davila, with three top-10 finishes, is the Warriors' leading scorer with an average of 74.00. Cox, who has played only in LC's spring events, averages 76.86 with Rawls at 77.13, Kessler at 77.69 and Caruso at 80.17.
 
"We have a good mix of older guys and younger," Lien said.
 
As for the challenges Papago presents, Lien likes what she sees.
 
"I think the course will suit my players well," she said. "The greens are rolling well.
 
"We have talked about game plan and the importance of playing like a team. They're all excited and ready to play."