STANFORD, Calif. – After three consecutive trips to the NCAA Final Four, the Stanford women's golf team begins the 2017-18 season Monday and Tuesday at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Eighteen teams will participate in the 54-hole hole stroke play event at the University of New Mexico Championship Course. The Cardinal will play 36 holes on Monday and 18 on Tuesday, with teams counting four of five scores each round.
Stanford's starting five will consist of senior Shannon Aubert, sophomore Andrea Lee, freshman Mika Liu, sophomore Ziyi Wang and junior Sierra Kersten.
Sophomore Albane Valenzuela is playing in the Evian Championship in France, featuring top professionals from the European and LPGA Tours.
Lee (t-8), Aubert (t-11) and Kersten (t-66) competed in the NCAA Albuquerque Regional on the University of New Mexico Championship Course last May and helped the Cardinal place first in the 18-team field. It was fifth victory of the season for Stanford, the most in program history.
"A lot of our players had good summers and are excited to start the season," said associate head coach, Lauren Dobashi. "We have a young team, so I think there's going to be lot of learning on both sides. We need to be steady, patient and not get ahead of ourselves."
Lee was the PING/WGCA Freshman of the Year in 2016-17, a first for Stanford. She earned WGCA First Team All-American, while Valenzuela was a second team selection. Both made All-Pac-12 First Team and are ranked in the top 10 in the Women's World Amateur Rankings.
Lee claimed the Southern California Women's Amateur Championship this summer, while Valenzuela posted impressive runner up showings at the European Ladies Amateur Championship and U.S. Women's Amateur Championship.
"They just continue to get better and push each other," Dobashi said.
Aubert also had a big summer, winning the Florida Women's Amateur Championship and earnest medalist honors at the U.S. Women's Amateur, reaching the round of 16.
"I think Shannon will be a great leader because she has a lot of energy and heart," said Dobashi. "She's a hard worker and really wants it."
Liu was a highly-decorated junior player and is expected to contribute immediately. Wang capped her summer with a second place finish at the California Women's Amateur Championship, while Kersten qualified for the U.S. Women's Amateur.
"We're lucky that we have a lot of depth," Dobashi said. "That should keep everyone on their toes."
Anne Walker, the Margot and Mitch Director of Women's Golf, is on maternity leave.
For live scoring, please visit GoStanford.com.