Wildcats Ready for Season Opener at the Dick McGuire Invitational – Kansas State University Athletics – K-StateSports.com
MANHATTAN, Kan. – After an offseason of preparation, the Kansas State women’s golf team is ready to tee off its 2022-23 campaign with the Dick McGuire Invitational. The three-round, 54-hole event hosted by New Mexico will be held Monday and Tuesday at the par-72, 6,354-yard UNM Championship Course in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The Cats begin this season with high expectations that center around an exciting group of five returners — Haley Vargas, Remington Isaac, Manon Donche-Gay, Napua Glossner, Gabriela McNelly — all of which are appearing in the opening lineup.
Two seniors, Donche-Gay and Vargas, highlight the Wildcats’ roster.
Donche-Gay, originally from Avigon, France, came to K-State after two seasons in the junior college ranks. She quickly adapted to Big 12 golf, appearing in nine events and accumulating a team-best 75.04 stroke average. Donche-Gay also recorded a pair of top-20 finishes including a fifth-place finish at the Sunflower Invitational.
Monday will mark the 25th-career appearance for Vargas, who has become a leader for this Wildcat squad. She carded a 75.33 stroke average during her junior season and was a consistent scorer for K-State as 87.04 percent of her round contributed towards the team score.
McNelly, a junior, stepped into a larger role last season as she earned two top-20 finishes in seven appearances. The Mico, Texas product will aim to build on that experience and continue as a pivotal piece in the Wildcat lineup.
Also beginning her junior year is Glossner, who will be making her 15th-career appearance for the Cats after leading the team in even or under par rounds during her sophomore campaign.
Isaac, a sophomore, is coming off a promising freshman year where she saw action in nine events. In her debut event for the Wildcats a year ago, she led the team with a third-place finish at the Sunflower Invitational. Now with a season of experience under her belt, there is no doubt that her play can elevate even higher heading into year two.
Though they don’t appear in the lineup for next week’s tournament, the Wildcats also welcome two newcomers with freshmen Kate Tilma and Noa Van Beek who will be ready to make their mark as the season progresses.
Head coach Kristi Knight enters her 27th season leading the Kansas State program and is excited about getting things rolling.
“We are looking forward to getting our season started in Albuquerque. It’s a great course that provides a lot of challenges as well as birdie opportunities,” Knight said.
In a squad full of quality players, the preseason practices have been an encouraging sign for Knight.
“I’m proud of how the team has embraced everything so far,” Knight said. “Competition and fighting for every shot for each other is the fun part.”
The season opener will test the Wildcats as they compete in a 17-team field. K-State will be joined by Big 12 foes Kansas, Iowa State, and Texas Tech along with Cal Poly, Charlotte, Denver, Fresno State, Iowa, Kent State, Northwestern, Ohio State, San Diego State, SMU, Texas Tech, UNLV, and USC.
The event is the first of a four-tournament fall schedule for Kansas State, which includes trips to Texas, Oklahoma and Cabo, Mexico.
Play in Albuquerque will begin with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. both days of competition, with the first two rounds commencing Monday and the final round on Tuesday.
Fans can follow live scoring throughout the tournament on Golfstat.com.