The men’s golf team started off the academic year fairly well with eighth place finish out of 13 teams at the Washington State Palouse Collegiate tourney held on Sept. 12-13. The Highlanders looked as if they were on their way to a solid season as they posted a season high third place finish out of six at the Firestone Grill Invite in the first week of October. However, after resuming play after the winter break, the Highlanders struggled to regain their footing. Of the tourneys played in 2012, the Highlanders finished consistently in the bottom of the standings with the exception of the Desert Invitational, held on Feb. 25-26, where they placed 15th out of 24 teams. The Highlanders’ season was summed up at the Big West Championships where they fell in last place, finishing nine out of nine. One bright spot of the season was the play of freshman David Gazzolo. Gazzolo averaged a score of 72.3 per round, and having a season-best game at the Braveheart Classic, where he placed third.
The women’s golf team had a solid start when they tied for sixth place out of 14 at the Rose City Collegiate at the end of September. The rest of the tourneys were not friendly to the Highlanders, as they finished in the bottom spectrum of the standings. The Highlanders did have a solid showing on March 22-23 at the Anteater Invitational where they tied for fifth place out of 15 teams. However, at the Big West Championships the Highlanders finished in last place, coming in seventh out of seven. The women’s team was led by Brittani Ferraro and Amelia Ek. Ferraro average a score of 76.1, while Ek averaged 77.1. Ek also had a team-best second place finish at the Anteater Invitational.
At the conclusion of the season, the head coach of both men’s and women’s golf teams, Paul Hjulberg, resigned. Athletic Director Brian Wickstrom will look to fill Hjulberg’s position this offseason.
