Star-Studded Field Set for Bruin-Wave Invitational at San Luis Obispo CC
2/21/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — One of the strongest fields in NCAA Division I women's golf this spring is set for the ninth annual Bruin-Wave Invitational on Monday and Tuesday at the San Luis Obispo Country Club.
The 16-team field includes 2015 NCAA champion Stanford, 2016 NCAA title winner Washington and 2017 Big West Conference champion Cal Poly. Also in the field are Pac-12 teams Cal, UCLA, Colorado and USC along with San Jose State, San Diego State, Fresno State and Big West members CSUN and Hawai'i, among others.
UCLA's Lilia Vu (pictured at right), the individual winner of the 2017 Bruin-Wave with an even-par 219 total, returns to defend her title. She was named a First Team All-American by the WGCA and Golfweek, and was also a All-Pac-12 Conference First Team honoree after posting a team-best 71.4 scoring average and winning four consecutive tournaments.
Vu is one of several All-Americans in this year's Bruin-Wave field in addition to numerous internationally ranked amateur players.
Mariel Galdiano, also of UCLA, placed fifth in last year's event while Albane Valenzuela of Stanford finished fourth. Both return to the Bruin-Wave next week.
Cal Poly placed 10th in last year's 15-team invitational and went on to claim its first Big West championship and earn a spot in the NCAA's Albuquerque Regional.
Desiree Gillaspy and Sophie Bergland shared 31st place a year ago and will be joined by Jamie Harada, Mallory Muehlbauer and Caroline Cantlay.
Admission for the Bruin-Wave Invitational, co-hosted by UCLA and Pepperdine, is free both days, with a shotgun start slated for Monday at 8 a.m. and players teeing off from the first and 10th tees starting at 7:50 a.m. Tuesday. Live stats are available by clicking here.
