CSUSM to Host Women’s Golf Nationals
August 21, 2006

Lake San Marcos Country Club has been selected as the site of the 2007 and 2008 NAIA Women's Golf National Championships, with Cal State San Marcos serving as the host institution.

The tournament, which will take place May 15-18 in 2007 and May 20-23 in 2008, has been the final event in the Women's Golf season since the NAIA established it in 1995. Next year will mark the first time that the event has been held on the West Coast. Hosting duties will be shared by the resort, the university, and the San Diego International Sports Council. San Marcos' bid was chosen from those submitted by other hopeful NAIA school locales.

"Cal State San Marcos is thrilled to have been selected to host the NAIA Women's Golf National Championships," says CSUSM Athletics Director Dr. Stephen Nichols. "We are excited to work with the San Diego International Sports Council and Lake San Marcos Country Club, and we look forward to putting on a first-class event."

Last year, the event was held at Blackthorn Golf Club in South Bend, Indiana. Over 100 golfers from 23 qualifying schools competed in the tournament, with the team from Oklahoma City winning the event in record-setting fashion.

The story for Cal State San Marcos, however, was the Lady Cougars’ surprising fourth place finish. For a team that featured just one senior, the strong finish gives plenty of reason for optimism regarding the upcoming season – a season that will now end on a course that the team plays on a near-weekly basis. Coach Stephanie Segura, who was instrumental in bringing the event to Cal State San Marcos, is thrilled about the prospect of competing for a championship in front of local fans.

“We’re very excited to be hosting the national championships,” says Segura. “It’s most definitely an advantage to be on our home course.”

Even for those familiar with the course, Lake San Marcos Country Club will provide quite a challenge. The 6,000-yard par 72 layout will test the golfers’ strategic shot-making skills; and the tree-lined fairways and bent grass greens are as picturesque for fans to look at as they are difficult for golfers to navigate.

Though the course will be challenging, the opportunity to compete in terrific San Diego weather just minutes away from the beach will surely make the NAIA’s selection a popular one amongst golfers. Furthermore, between hosting the event and potentially vying for a title in it, Cal State San Marcos appears ready to put its women’s golf program on the map.