University of California - Riverside Women's Golf

Ritchie, Women's Golf Coach, was named LPGA National Coach of the Year ( story ) after leading the Highlanders to the 2016 Big West Championship at Kapalua's Bay Course, overcoming a three shot in the final round to claim the program's first conference title. In addition to the Big West title, the team hoisted tournament trophies at the Cowgirl Desert Classic and the Lady Mustang Invitational. Ritchie guided All-Conference First teamers Hannah Facchini and Jakeishya Le to medalist honors at the Lady Mustang Invitational and the Red Rocks Invitational respectively. Le was Big West named Co-Freshman of the Year and finished 15th at the Stanford NCAA Regional- the highest in the history of the program. The Highlanders received an NCAA Public Recognition Award for its Academic Progress Rate for the 2014-15 academic season. Haley Wian was honored as UC Riverside's Big West Female Scholar Athlete of the Year. Wian and Facchini were also named to the Big West All-Academic Team in 2015-16 In 2014-15 season she propelled the team to its highest national ranking in the history of the program (21 spots higher than next best ranking in 2007). The team attained major feats including three tournament wins, two individual wins, two All-Conference Selections, one Big West Scholar Athlete, and a team GPA of 2.88. The program had also improved their overall national ranking 53 spots from the previous year and secured their best conference finish since 2007. With Ritchie's coaching, the program established multiple records, including a new UCR record for 1 day team total of  287 (-1),  tying the UCR record for 2 day team total of 582 (+3), and a new tournament scoring record of 875 (+11). The team's season scoring average had also improved from 307 to 300, the lowest in the history of the program.  Ritchie had the first Individual to advance to NCAA Regionals, as well as had the lowest individual round of -5. In addition to these great achievements, the program had also raised approximately $18,000. With these combined triumphs, Mary Ritchie was voted the 2015 LPGA Western Section Coach of the Year. LPGA professional Mary Ritchie was hired as the Highlanders new Head Women's Golf Coach on July 1, 2014 following previous success both playing and coaching. Following Eric Riehle's resignation as UC Riverside's Director of Golf and Head Men's Golf Coach in August of 2015, Ritchie was named the interim head coach of the men's team until the hiring of Rick Todd in November of that year. Ritchie worked as the director of instruction/teaching professional at Moreno Valley Ranch Golf Club in Moreno Valley, CA since 2006, and was at Temeku Hills Golf and Country Club in Temecula, CA from 2003 through 2009. Prior to her time on the West Coast, Ritchie was a golf professional at Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami, FL from 2000-02. She returned to her alma mater, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, as Head Women's Golf Coach in 1997-98 following a stint as assistant golf coach for the Blazers in 1995-96. As head coach, Ritchie improved the team's national ranking from 89th to 56th as rated by Golfstat, and increased scholarships from three to the NCAA maximum level of six. Ritchie was an all-conference performer at UAB, winning one tournament, finishing with 11 top-five finishes, and leading the team in scoring for three seasons. She became a touring professional in 1999, playing on the Futures Tour, US Challenge Tour, West Coast Ladies Tour, and Canadian Women's Tour. Additionally, she finished in the top 10 in over 30 events, including three tournament wins, and a third place finish in the 2004 LPGA T&CP Championship. Ritchie is a LPGA Class A Professional, and serves as the LPGA Western Section Secretary for 2014-16. She was also a nominee for both the 2013 Western Section Teacher of the Year, and 2013 Western Section Junior Leader of the Year.