WSU alum Welch in Golf Channel tournament
Kim Welch, an All-American at Washington State her junior year, will compete in the Golf Channel’s inaugural Big Break Invitational Sept. 30-Oct. 3.
Welch is one of 20 women in the 40-competitor field that consists of former Big Break competitors in the tournament at Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Georgia. Welch won the Big Break Ka’anapali in 2008 against 11 other women.
A native of Sacramento, California, Welch competes on the Symetra Tour and the LPGA Tour. She has competed in multiple LPGA events since winning Big Break Ka’anapali and earned LPGA status in 2011 and 2013.
Welch golfed at WSU from 2001-05. In 2003, she was an All-American first-team selection by the National Golf Coaches Association and All-Pac-10 first team, one of four all-conference honors she received. She still holds WSU records for career wins (11), career top-10 finishes (31) and career top-25 finishes (40).
The four-day tournament will air live on Golf Channel.
Avista Stadium recognized
For a 10th straight year, and the 16th time in 18 years, the Spokane Indians’ Avista Stadium has been named the Northwest League Field of the Year for 2014.
In acknowledging the award, the Indians’ head groundskeeper, David Yearout, said “Our grounds crew works hard to keep the field in pristine condition for our players, coaches and fans.”He noted Avista Stadium’s field has remained unchanged since the facility was built in 1958, a compliment to grounds crews present and past.Yearout is one of 16 candidates for Minor League Baseball’s Sports Turf Manager of the Year, which will be announced at the 2014 baseball winter meeetings.
Eastern honors pair
Kelsey Julian , a senior volleyball player, and senior football player Blair Bomber have been selected by the Eastern Washington athletics department as its September Scholar-Athletes of the Month.
Julian, a health and fitness major from Kennewick with a 3.87 grade-point average, leads the Eagles with an average of 2.77 kills per set while swinging at a .304 clip, a mark that ranks ninth in the Big Sky Conference. She has had four matches with double-digit kills.
Bomber, from Lynden, Washington, with a 3.94 GPA in interdisciplinary studies, played a key role in EWU’s season-opening victory over Sam Houston State, catching a pair of touchdown passes. He ranks fifth on the team with eight catches for 81 yards.