RIO VERDE, Ariz. – The Shocker women's golf team restarts their season in the Grand Canyon State beginning on February 23 when they start competition in the Rio Verde Invitational at Rio Verde Country Club
 
Head women's golf coach Tom McCurdy is ready for his team to return to the competition scene this week in Arizona.
 
"As a team, we've got a good five going," said McCurdy. "We've been raising the bar in everything that we do, and I'm impressed with what the girls have shown so far and just hoping it carries over to the golf course."
 
The Shockers are playing in Rio Verde for the 13th time in 14 years with the lone exception being the 2020-21 season. The Shockers best finish as a team in Rio Verde came in the 2015-16 season, when the Shockers finished tied for second with UMKC and were 11 strokes behind winner, Toledo.
 
"It's a pretty straight forward golf course," said McCurdy. "There are some holes and greens that are tricky and can be challenging."
 
The highest finish for any Shocker at Rio Verde came in the 2014-15 season where current assistant coach Alejandra Heinen finished in third, putting in a tournament score of 221 (+5) with round scores of 73-76-72.
 
"I think the scores here could sometimes be lower than what they should be," said McCurdy "The team and individual that win are usually just a few shots under par, and I think we've got players on our team who can go down there and win it."
 
The Shockers best finish in any tournament this season is fourth, which came in their season-opening tournament at the Payne Stewart Memorial in Springfield, Missouri.
 
Fast Facts – Rio Verde Invitational
Dates: Friday-Sunday, Feb. 23-25, 2024
Host: Western Michigan
Location: Rio Verde, Ariz. (Rio Verde Country Club)
Yardage: 6,024
Par: 72
Format: 54 Holes (18 each day)
Live Scoring: TBD
The Field – 20 Teams: Team (Clippd College Golf Team Ranking)
Kennesaw State (93), Xavier (112), California Baptist (119), Illinois State (138), South Dakota (141), Bradley (143), Oakland (147), Ball State (167), Wichita State (170),  Missouri State (174), Bowling Green (177), Akron (195), Butler (199), Western Michigan (202), Utah Tech (205), Eastern Michigan (t-217), Loyola-Chicago (t-217), Central Michigan (223), Ohio (226), Evansville (247).
 
Shocker Five in Rio Verde:
Mackenzie Wilson (So.) -- Second year Shocker playing in fifth tournament of the season… Competed in all four fall tournaments as a sophomore...Led team in stroke average (73.2) and birdies (34)...Recorded lowest 18-hole score (68) and 54-hole score (212) of any Shocker in the fall, those scores are also her new career lows...Her 212 54-hole score at Diamante was the second lowest in team history.
 
Madison Slayton (Sr.) -- Playing in 17th tournament as a Shocker… Set career lows for 18-hole and 54-hole scores in final fall tournament at Diamante Intercollegiate...Recorded first eagle of the season at Diamante Intercollegiate.
 
Kate Tilma (So.) – Transfer from Kansas State…Competed in all four fall tournaments...Posted the Shocker's only top-5 individual finish of the fall at Payne Stewart Memorial...Second most birdies on team with 29...One of three Shockers to post multiple top-20 finishes in the fall.
 
Hillary Currier (Fr.) – True freshman…Competing in fifth event of the season…Finished season best t-22nd finish at Big O Classic on Oct. 3...Set season lows for 18-hole and 54-hole scores at Diamante Intercollegiate.
 
Lauren Thiele (R-Fr.) – Appearing in third tournament this season…Competed in two of four fall tournaments...Set personal season low 18-hole score of 76 at Big O Classic on Oct. 2...Finished t-15th in same tournament.
 
Coach McCurdy on…
 
…Mackenzie Wilson:
"Mackenzie has such a great driver. She can work the ball both ways, has very good distance control with her irons, and she has a great competitive fire. I think she has the capability and potential to have a big breakthrough sometime soon."
 
…Madison Slayton
"I've seen some really good things out of Madison so far this spring in qualifying. I'm really excited to see her play this golf course. I think she could do really well down here."
 
…Kate Tilma:
"Kate has the ability to turn some par fives into par fours because of how long she can hit the ball. She also can carry some of the fairway bunkers that 90% of the tournament field is not going to be able to do. She's going to have a great advantage in that area and she's a great putter as well."
 
…Hillary Currier
"Hillary is doing very well in terms of being an open book and coachable as a true freshman. She's got a solid foundation. She always keeps the ball in play and is a good putter and that's going to give her great opportunities to score."
 
…Lauren Thiele
"Lauren has made some adjustments to her golf game after playing in her first collegiate tournament earlier this year. She's a great ball-striker, very disciplined, and she's a great competitor."
 
Next Up
The Shockers will pick up their clubs and head south to New Orleans, Louisiana, and English Turn Golf & Country Club, to compete in the Tulane Classic beginning on March 10.