Seattle University head golf coach Marc Chandonnet and assistant coach Ann Swanson are finalizing details as the Redhawks will host the inaugural Pat Lesser Harbottle Invitational Sunday through Tuesday, Oct. 12-14, at the Tacoma Country and Golf Club.
There are 13 teams entered in this year’s tournament: British Columbia, Cal Poly, Eastern Washington, Grand Canyon, Idaho, Missouri-Kansas City, Montana, Portland State, Seattle U, South Dakota, Washington, Washington State, and Weber State. The teams will play a practice round Sunday, Oct. 12, followed by 36 holes Monday, Oct. 13, and the final 18 holes Tuesday, Oct. 14, with both competitions days set to begin at 8:30 a.m. with a shotgun start.
“Ann and I are very excited to share the tournament experience we have set up with the visiting teams. We believe that, between Seattle University and Tacoma Country and Golf Club, we have the opportunity to host one of the premier events in the Pacific Northwest and in all of NCAA women’s collegiate golf,” Chandonnet said. “On top of that, what a special opportunity for everyone competing in the event and for us here at Seattle University to honor one of our greatest golfers of all time, SU Hall of Fame member Pat Lesser Harbottle. Thank you to all our supporters, our volunteers and especially to the folks at Tacoma Country and Golf Club for helping us to make this a very special week!”
Lesser Harbottle ‘55 came to Seattle U as a two-time champion of the Seattle Women's Golf Association Championship. In 1953 she won the National Collegiate Women's Championship and was chosen as a member of the 1954 Curtis Cup squad. One of the few women in the country to play on the varsity men's golf team, she was named "Man of the Year" by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in 1955 and twice served as the Northwest nominee for the prestigious Sullivan Award. She has been inducted into both the Pacific Northwest Golf Association Hall of Fame and the Washington State Sports Hall of Fame.
Seattle U will be concluding its fall season with this invitational, the fourth consecutive week in which the Redhawks will be competing at a collegiate golf tournament. All eight players on the current roster are planning to play in the tournament, with Amanda Beyke (Federal Way, Wash.), Dorsey Addicks (Big Sky, Mont.), Ellen Brantberg (Stockholm, Sweden), and Jamie Huo (Kent, Wash.) earning spots on the five-person squad that will score on behalf of Seattle U. Tori Hoff (Orinda, Calif.), Monica Keo (Kaneohe, Hawaii), Juhee Lee (Wilsonville, Ore.), and Alexus Song (Auburn, Wash.) will also compete next week, with one joining the team lineup and the other three playing as individuals.
The Redhawks will face stiff competition in its home tournament. The Washington Huskies are coming off a convincing victory at the Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational this past week at Sahalee Country Club, led by medalist SooBin Kim. Idaho won the New Mexico State Aggie Invitational, with Kaitlyn Oster earning co-medalist honors. Earlier this fall, Washington State won its home tournament, the Cougar Cup, with Nani Yanagi earning medalist honors.
Seattle U welcomes two of its Western Athletic Conference foes to the Pacific Northwest this coming week. Grand Canyon’s Charlotte Jaengkit set a school record for lowest 54-hole score in earning co-medalist honors at the New Mexico State Aggie Invitational, leading the Antelopes to a fifth-place finish. UMKC set a three-round team score record at the Johnie Imes Invitational in late September.
Spectators are welcome to follow the golfers during play on Monday and Tuesday. Live scoring for the tournament will be available at http://www.golfstatresults.com/public/leaderboards/gsnav.cfm?SPID=10783&DB_OEM_ID=18300&pg=participants&tid=5810.