TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Arizona women's golf program added a new member to its coaching staff as the defending national champions are set to open their 2018-19 campaign next week.

Head coach Laura Ianello announced Monday the hiring of Justin Bubser, a former collegiate and professional golfer, as an assistant coach.
 
"What an opportunity!" Bubser said. "I am extremely excited to join the University of Arizona's women's golf program. With the team coming off a national championship, the expectations are obviously very high. I think the additions to the roster that Coach Ianello made over the summer are going to make an already strong team even stronger. We are eager to get the season started next week at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate."
 
Bubser played collegiate golf at New Mexico Junior College and Western New Mexico University. After graduating, Bubser became an assistant golf professional at Alto Lakes Golf & Country Club in Ruidoso, NM. Bubser briefly competed on the Gateway, Adams, and Pepsi tours before accepting a position as assistant golf professional at Omni Tucson National Resort. In 2014, Bubser was named the Head Golf Professional at Omni Tucson National. Bubser has also been heavily involved in coaching youth golfers in the Tucson community.

"I am very excited to have Justin Bubser join our program," Ianello said. "Justin's experience as the director of instruction and head golf professional at Omni Tucson National Resort will add a new level of expertise to our women's coaching staff. Justin is an established instructor and played collegiate and professional golf. I have faith knowing that adding Justin to our staff will help continue our championship legacy at Arizona."
 
Bubser will have his first chance to watch the team compete when the Wildcats travel to Minneapolis for the ANNIKA Invitational beginning September 17.

For more information about the Arizona women's golf team, follow @ArizonaWGolf on Twitter and at ArizonaWildcats.com.